^ 




From a Photograph by W. T. Bowers. 



Ew Pity ]^all, Lynn. 



THE 



CITY HALL OF LYNN: 

BEING 

% listori) of 6bents leading to its Predion, 

AND 

AN ACCOUNT OF THE CEREMONIES 

AT THE 

DEDICATION OF THE BUILDING, 

NOV. 30, 1867. 




PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL. 



LYNN : 
THOS. P. NICHOLS, PRINTER, 

1869. 






CITY OF LYNN. 



In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, ) 
December 2, 1867. ^ 

Ordered, That the City Clerk, under the direction of His Honor 
the Mayor, cause to be prepared and printed a complete history of all 
matters and proceedings relating to the new City Hall, from the com- 
mencement to the completion of the same ; including the appropria- 
tions and expenditures, together Avith the Addresses, Poem, and other 
proceedings connected with the dedication of the building ; and that 
one thousand copies thereof be bound for distribution. 
Sent down for concurrence. 

BENJ. H. JONES, City Clerk. 



Adopted in concurrence. 
A true copy. Attest : 



In Common Council, Dee. 9, 1867. 
C. M. TRACY, Clerk. 



BENJ. H. JONES, City Clerk. 



Under the authority of the above Order, the Committee of Publi- 
cation have placed the work in the hands of Cyrus M. Tracy, Esq., 
for preparation and issue. The result, which we believe to be satis- 
factory, is seen in the volume now offered to our fellow citizens. 

R. G. USHER, late Mayor, i 
BENJ. H. JONES, City Clerk, ( 

Com. of Publication. 
Lynn, Oct. 10, 1869. 



5 

5 CONTENTS. 



pre1.iminaky history vi 

Legislative History. 

Reports and Okders 1 

SiNKiNG-FuND Act 30 

Laying the Corner Stone 35 

Ceremonies of Dedication 45 

Description of the Building 113 

Financial History 123 

Venerable List • 127 

Index 131 



PRELIMINARY HISTORY. 




OLD TOWN HALL, 
Built 1814. Destroyed by fire Oct. 6, 18G4. 



PRELIMINARY HISTORY. 



The character of the public buildings in a place is always a principal 
feature by which the place is judged. It may not be very easy to explain 
this fact fully, but it is notably true that hardly anything receives more 
prominent mention by tourists than the style of the public edifices in the 
cities visited. Hence we are usually in possession of better accounts as 
to these objects than we can obtain of many other characteristics of 
foreign places, even when the latter may be far more important. 

Judged by the standard of her public buildings (a standard never, 
perhaps, wholly just), Lynn has not in time past held a high rank. Her 
early church edifices were of the primitive stamp common to the greater 
part of New England; her school houses were just sufficient for the 
purpose designed, with no margin for architectural effect; and as for 
buildings for municipal uses, she had none of them. Although the early 
settlers found it expedient to hold town meetings every three months for 
the regulation of public alTairs.* they had no particular place allotted 
to such assemblies, but met in the village churches for more than one 
hundred and eighty years. 

The erection of the first church was then, constructively, the beginning 
of buildings for municipal assemblies. The date of this event seems 
rather doubtful ; but the church having been gathered on the 8th of June. 
1632. it is probable that th^ meeting-house was built very near that time. 
Its location was not far from the present north-easterly corner of Shepard 
and Summer Streets; and late examinations render it probable that it 
stood almost exactly on the spot now occupied by the house of Mrs. M. F. 
Ward. This building served the double purpose of religious and secular 
gatherings for a period of about fifty years. 

In 1082 the meeting-house which has gained such local celebrity as the 
'•Old Tunnel" was erected on the Common. The older building is said 
to have been removed from the first location to fornl a part of the new 
structure ; but how fiir this is true cannot now be known. This second 

* History of Lynn, 1865, p. 132. 



VUl THE CITY HALL. 

work was of a very substantial style, framed with the huge oaken timber 
of that clay, and thoroughly ap])ointed for the long and trying service 
which it afterwai-d rendered so well. Tradition has always claimed that 
a part of the lumber used was from trees cut upon the Common not far 
from the place of the building itself. If this be correct, it would point 
to a kind of forest then prevailing here, very different from any that has 
grown on our soil in later years. 

Space need not here be taken for any description of this edifice, as it 
has been fully given by other authors.* Its location has been variously 
stated, but seems to be best defined by the fact that Thomas Witt, whose 
house yet stands first east of the First Baptist Church, and Micajah New- 
hall, whose dwelling formerly stood next east from the First Congrega- 
tional Church, could not, when standing in their respective doors, see 
each other's houses, the " Tunnel " being just between them. This places 
it a little west of the present flag-staff" and music-stand. 

This staunch edifice served the town in a religious and temporal way 
for a very long period indeed. But with the increase of population came, 
of course, a larger attendance at town-meetings ; and, as it very naturally 
further happened, many of these voters and townsmen had separated 
from the primitive religious organization and given their adhesion to 
other churches. At length, in 1805, those who held possession of the 
old church came to the conclusion that the use of their house for town 
purposes could not be longer allowed. Various legal reasons were 
adduced in support of this decision ; whether other feelings, somewhat 
less defensible, hifluenced the proceedings, it is not competent here to 
inquire. In the negotiations on the matter, an attempt was made to com- 
promise by the payment of rent; but the town refused to hire the accom- 
modation which, for a hundred and seventy-three consecutive years, thej' 
had held as their own by right. The last town-meeting held in the 
•^ Tunnel" was on April 1, 1805; the next, on the 6th of May following, 
was convened in the First Methodist Meeting-house, then standing at the 
eastern end of the Common, on what is now Park Square, and directly in 
front of the present house of the same name. 

Thus was reached the end of that visible union of the ecclesiastical and 
municipal concerns of the people which had been for so many years the 
established order of things. When the town-meeting left the church, 
there was given up the last relic of the idea that the religious tenets of 
the people were identical with their municipal concerns, or that they were 
even correlatives. The town, as such regarded, was no longer a body 

* History of Lynn, lt<05, p. 277. 



PRELIMINARY HISTORY. IX 

of Puritan believers, nor indeed of any other faitli in pnrticular. It was 
thenceforward a purely civil institution, tolerant of all persuasions, but 
not recognizinfi' any; interested for the preservation of religious liberty 
and the cultivation of the Christian virtues, but no long-er knowing-, in its 
legislative or executive action, anj- denomination, as nearer than another 
to the public heart. 

It is interesting for a moment to thinlv of the stirring uicideuts, the 
critical events in the civil life of I>3nn, to wliicli the old house of meet- 
ing had been witness. From there, in 1GS9, went up that indignant depu- 
tation, headed by Rev. Jeremiah Shepard, to protest in arms against the 
usurpations of Sir Edmund Aiidros. It was on the 19th of April in that 
year, a day memorable in New England historj^, when the roused Bos- 
tonians took the usurping Governor and imprisoned him, backed by the 
strength of countrymen like those from Lynn, who came, says a witness, 
"like so many wild bears." Here was passed that order of the town by 
which, in 1706. all the common lands were equitably divided among the 
settlers who had made actual improvements of their own ; thus at a 
stroke creating some of the most valuable land titles among us. In this 
ancient house were passed the notable resolves against the tea trade, in 
1771 and '73, when Lynn declared that " The people of the British Ameri- 
can Colonies, by their constitution of government, had a right to freedom, 
and an exemption from every degree of oppression and slavery.'* Here 
also, in 1780, the town granted twenty-seven hundred silver dollars to 
paj^ the soldiers of the Revolution, and in the space of two years, taxed 
themselves with a burden of seventy thousand pounds, old tenor, for the 
expenses of the defence of liberty. Here supplies and men were voted 
to suppress the Rebellion of Shays ; here the spirited address to President 
John Adams was voted in 1798, on the subject of the French difficulties, 
which led the high recipient to reply, '"Your acknowledgment of the 
blessings you enjoy, and determination never supinely to surrender them, 
prove you to deserve them.'" 

At the time of leaving the old meeting-house, we hear nothing of any 
proposal for the building of any structure specially for the use of the 
town. It would hardly seem that there was such a state of prosperity as 
would encourage to such an enterprise, small, perhaps, in itself, but verj' 
considerable to the townsmen of that time. At the last election previous, 
April 2, 1804, the poll only showed four hundred and twenty-one votes. 
The valuation of the whole place, by the Assessors' books, was but about 
$45,135.00. Beside, the "days of suspense'' that followed the Revolu- 
tion had not passed by; and the infant country, tottering under its new- 



X THE CITY HALL. 

found iiulependence, was like the little child of Dr. Franklin's anecdote, 
no man could tell what it might come to. It is not surprising, therefore, 
that no plan for a nuinicipal edifice was brouglit forward at this time. 
Tlie Methodist Church was readily obtained ; it stood in a favorable situa- 
tion, and moreover, since it represented that agency which, more than 
any other, had divided the sentiment of the people and led the way to 
the expulsion, it was not unfitting that it should open its doors and 
receive the wandering civil power in its turn. To the Methodist Church, 
then, the municipal center of the town was transferred. 

The site of this building has been stated. Its architectural features 
will be readily recalled, not only by those who statedly worshipped under 
its roof, but also by many of a younger age, who knew it after its removal 
from the Common in May, 1813, and during its long service on the south- 
erly side of Ash Street, as the Grammar School House of the Sixth Ward. 
A much less pretentious edifice than the "Tunnel," it yet had a distinc- 
tion the other never could claim, being the first house of worship built by 
its denomination, not in Lynn only, but in Massachusetts. It was erected 
in 1791, very soon after the formation of the First Methodist Society; and 
tradition has it that the veteran Jesse Lee gave daily labor to its construc- 
tion during the week, and preached in it on Sundays, for a considerable 
time. 

For nearly nine years next ensuing, the civil concerns of Lynn found 
here their home. In this sanctuary were intruded those fierce debates 
that marked the days of the Embargo of 1807, rising so high in the next 
year that we find one party expelling the other from the house and 
barring the doors against them. Upon this arena all those wordy com- 
bats took place, that tried the strength of Democrat and Federalist in the 
beginning of the War of Impressments. Indeed, did we wish to select 
the darkest days, the times of deepest depression that ever lay upon our 
town for nine years together, we could hardly fail to point to the period 
when the Selectmen's warrants called the people to assemble in the Old 
Methodist Meeting House. 

During the year 1812, the First Methodist Society erected the house in 
which the}' have since continued to worship. It became desirable to dis- 
pose of the old building, and the town authorities found that another 
removal on their part was necessary. The last town meeting held there 
was on the 3d of May, 1813, and just oive month after, on the 3d of June, 
the new church was dedicated, and the mimicipality left afloat without an 
anchorage. This, of course, could not last long. A meeting was called, 
at the eleventh hour as it were. Dec. 27, 1813. and, wanting a more. con- 



PRELIMINARY HISTORY. XI 

venient place, assembled at the Second Methodist Church, at '" Wood- 
end;" an edifice on the site of the present St. Paul's. This meeting finally 
met the question squarely, and ordered the buildino- of a Toavx House; 
an edifice that should be public property, and from which the officers 
of the people should not be liable to ejectment at the hands of private 
parties.* 

The performance of this enterprise was fully in keeping with the rapid 
style of building so often witnessed in our city since that time. The 
builders did not wait for seasoned timber. Tradition has always affirmed 
that logs, freshly c>it in the woods, were hewn immediately for the frame ; 
and an inspection of the fabric in later times made it a very probable 
story. Another tradition does, indeed, declare that a part of the frame 
was made from the timber which formed the cargo of one of the prizes 
sent in by the privateer Industry about this time. This is not now easy 
to be decided. Either way. the structure was put together by quick and 
willing hands. It hardily could have been begun before Xew Years Day, 
j^et in March following (1814) the Selectmen proudl^MSSued their warrant, 
calling the people to meet "in the Town House" on the 21st of that 
month, and they did so. But while the carpenters are hewing and 
framing this future temple of popular liberty, through all that winter's 
coldest daj's, we turn for a moment to one other edifice that for a 
space answered the needs of the hour, and thus comes natui-ally under 
notice. 

There stood at that time on the corner of Market and Essex Streets 
a well-known building, commonly called the " Corner Store." The one 
now on the same spot, occupied by "\Vai-ren Tapley, Esq., apothecary, is 
the same, with the alterations and improvements of later years. It was 
then owned, or at least occupied, by Paul & Ellis Xewhall. two brothers, 
of whom the former still survives among us. The hall in the second 
stor}-, though small, was yet a place of much importance; for. being 
centrally located, it was adopted as headquarters b}- the Democrats, who 
upheld the war then progressing ; and from this it came to be known as 
the '' War Office." 

A single trial seems to have satisfied the authorities that the Second 
INIethodist Church was not sufficiently central for the purpose of meetings. 
On looking about for a better place, then, the Selectmen pitched upon 
the ''War Office '" as more suitable than any other, and aocordinglj', the 



* For the details of this order, and the report of the committee who executed it, see 
Mayor Neal's remarks at tlie laying of the corner stone of the City Hall, further on. 



XU THE CITY HALL. 

meeting for Jan. 31, 1814, was called at that place, or, as the warrant 
says, " at the Hall of Paul & Ellis Newhall." This room, not more 
than thirty feet by fifty, would hardly accommodate a single ward of the 
present city ; but the meeting of the town was held there on the above 
date, and agahi, by adjournment, on the 7th of February following. 
These meetings are notable for the rather decisive action there taken 
on what was then new business for Lynn, to wit, the separation of new 
towns. The incorporation of Lynnfield had been under discussion for a 
long time ; and here the contest was relinquished by the old town, and 
the new gained its independence on the 28th of the same February. This 
was the end of that period in which the freemen of the town were de- 
pendent on the pleasure of private owners for a place to transact their 
public affairs. Henceforth a new system was to be enjoyed. 

On the 21st of March following, then, we find the town assembled in 
the new building, under a warrant served by Otis Newhall, Constable.* 
If the voters felt any pleasure in viewing thd work, it could hardly have 
been on account of its beauty or completeness. The outside was barely 
finished, (he inside not at all. Only the single under floors appear to 
have been laid, and a few seats, perhaps, with the simple platform and 
conveniences for voting, made the whole of that possession to which the 
people of Lynn had ventured to help themselves, after they had owned 
the soil for more than a hundred and eighty years. True, it was put in a 
somewhat better state soon after, for the work was even then going on ; 
I but the remaining items were small. During the :^umraer it appears to 
have been underpinned and furnished with stone steps ; the upper floors 
were also laid. And in this state — only one remove better than a bara — 
it stood for eighteen years in its conspicuous position, nearly opposite the 
head of Church Sti'eet, the unadorned representative of the municipal 
character and policy of Lynn. 

It is not necessary to give even a passing notice here, to the numerous 
important events that find historical connection with the legislation had 
in this building. During the ''Masonic War" of 1829, the Nullification 
excitement of 1832, the strife over the incoiporation of the city in 1850,, 
and the grand contest between liberty and slavery that covered and ran 
through the whole of the last thirty years of its existence, the Old Town 
Hall witnessed manj'- scenes of profound interest, fit every way to engage 

* This was a son of Micajah Newhall, mentioned on p. viii, and brother of Paul and 
Ellis Newhall, spoken of above. He must be distinguished from Otis Newhall who was 
in the City Government many years, between 1S53 and ISfiO, .and was also Keeper of Pine 
Grove Cemetery for a long period. He was a son of Allen Newhall. 



PRELIMINARY HISTORY. XIU 

the pen of the historian or the poet. These we pass without recital. In 
1831, the townsmen had come to feel the propriety of clearino^ away the 
various buildings that encumbered the Common, and the removal of the 
Town House became an essential part of this improvement. The com- 
mittee appointed (Nov. 14. 1831) to superintend this work were William 
Bassett, Ebenezer Brown, and Jacob Insalls. On the 17th of the next 
March, Henry A. Breed and Stephen Oliver were added, and the work 
was done during the early part of the year. No formal report from this 
committee appears on the record, but it was at this time that the interior 
was first brought into a condition that might be called finished. So far 
indeed was the improvement urged, that the town were even induced to 
vote that a stove should be provided among the other additions to the 
edifice, and thus the established chill of the "March meeting" was 
legislated away, and the new order of things acknowledged, at least in 
principle. 

The spot to which the building was thus removed was exactly that 
where Blossom Street now opens upon South Common. From this time 
it became the grand lecture-hall of the place, opening its doors to any 
and all who would pay the prescribed charges for its use. Its plain, 
familiar look will long endure in the memory of those who knew it, and 
equally so the face and figure of its honest superintendent. Mr. John 
Hallowell,* who faithfully made it his charge for many years. But after 
a time, the rusty and somewhat elderly look of the building seemed to 
call for further improvement, and the town voted, March 8, 1841, to refer 
the business of i)roposed repairs to a committee, being Henry A. Breed, 
Ebenezer Weeks, Jr., Stephen Oliver, Joseph Ingalls, Jr., and Samuel 
Stearns. These having reported to the subsequent meeting of April 5th, 
Otis Newhall,t Ebenezer Weeks, Jr., and Henry A. Breed were appointed 
to suiierintend the reiiairs. Five hundred dollars were appropriated for 
the object. 

The repairs thus made were rather extensive, involving a change from 
the original hipped roof to the more approved style with gables, and 
sundry interior arrangements, going to make the rooms more teuantable. 
The work was contracted for and executed by Mr. Newhall, of the com- 
mittee, who employed Munroe & Fenby,t carpenters, and John F. Cook, 
painter and glazier, in the various parts of the work. Some controversy 
seems to have grown out of the matter ; as an investigating committee, 

* A son of Henry Hallowell, who was Town Clerk from 1804 to 1820. 
t The same first named on p. xii. 

t Phipps Munroe, son of Timothy, was killed by accident Nov. 26, 1861. Hie partner 
was Thomas P. Fenby. 

c 



XIV THE CITY HALL. 

appointed March 19, 1842, and who i-eported to the town April 4, would 
appear to have suspected some irregularities. 

After these repairs and alterations, the Town Hall presented the ap- 
pearance shown in the cut which precedes this chapter. No further 
change was ever made in the exterior. The inner arrangements com- 
prised a comfortable Selectmen's Room in the south-eastern corner; a 
room immediately in front of it, used by the Fire Department ; a room in 
the south-western corner, occupied by the Lynn Light Infantry, which 
was afterwards extended so as to occupy most of the west side of the 
hall. A waste room for wood, &c., on either side, took up the remainder 
of the lower floor, save the long hall or passage, which ran from front 
to back through the center, and gave access to the whole. The stairways 
were in the two front corners, respectively, and led immediatelj' to the 
capacious hall, that filled nearly all the second floor, only leaving two 
small closets above the staircases. In this form the structure remained 
till the change in the form of government in 1850. Then it became evi- 
dent that a re-arrangement of rooms was necessary, as there was no 
disposition to attempt any new structure. A partition was thrown across 
the large hall, taking off" about one third of its size next the front. This 
small section was appropriated to the use of the Police Court, and was 
also assigned as award room for Ward Five. The larger portion, entered 
through the ward-room, was allotted to the Common Council, being fur- 
nished with a raised platform and desks, with a circular table sweeping 
round the middle area, and seats for twenty-four members. The en- 
closure for the Selectmen and Clerk, known so anciently as the "calf- 
pen," was removed ; but the raised tiers of seats on either side remained 
for the public, as they had been for many years. lu the lower story but 
little change was made. The Selectmen's Room became the City Clerk's 
OflQce, having been provided with a brick vault for the records some time 
before. The Engineers Room accommodated also the Assessors and 
Overseers; while the Armory became two rooms, the southern for the 
Mayor and Aldermen, and the one in front for the Judge of Police 
Court. 

In this way the City Government contrived to accommodate themselves 
for some time. After a year or two, a further improvement was made by 
taking out the stairs in the north-westerly corner, and from the space so 
gained making an oflice for the City Marshal on the lower floor, and one 
for the Clerk of Police Court on that above. The room behind and below 
the north-eastern stairs was converted into two strong lockups, ceiled up 
with plank, but with iron grated doors. The furniture of the principal 



PRELIMINARY HISTORY. XV 

rooms was almost whollj' from Stephen Smith, of Boston, and was 
thouo:ht very fine at the thne, thou<ih i)lain in comparison with that of 
later clays. The parties who executed the alterations were too many to 
be here enumerated ; but the whole was done under the chief oversight 
of William Bassett, the last Clerk of the town and the first of the city. 

We now arrive at that period in our history marlied by the destruction 
of the building that had thus served the town and city for half a century. 
In the recital of an event which produced a strong sensation throughout 
the city, a degree of detail somewhat greater than has been had in the 
foregoing pages may be indulged. It is not probable that any connected 
account of the occurrence can be now found, other than that given in the 
solitary paper then printed in the city; and in view of the unsubstantial 
character of such a record, and the better chances of durability on the 
part of this volume, it is thought fit to chronicle the circumstances of this 
disaster with something of exactness. 

On the evening of Oct. 5, 1864, the police apprehended, for disorderly 
and noisy conduct, a man named Joseph Bond, living in Charles Street, 
and committed him to the lockup, placing him in the smaller of the two 
cells, under the stairs. During the night an oflScer visited the place one 
or more times, and attended to such other persons as were in custody, 
finally discharging, before morning, all but the individual named. After 
this the man was alone in the building for a time, so far as can be known. 

Between four and five o'clock in the next morning, Oct. 6, Mr. William 
B. Gould, living in the "■ Kipley House," nearly opposite the Hall, heard 
a succession of screams, apparently from the lockups, in which he dis- 
tinguished the words "'let me out!" This cry, though passionate, was 
80 often heard from that quarter, that in the quietness of the morning, he 
gave it no attention. But the sounds had also been heard by Mr. David 
B. Dowst, of Salem, marketman, who, coming from the east along the 
Common, noticed them to grow fainter as he approached, and finally to 
cease, just after he reached the Hall. Stopping his wagon, he found the 
lockups in flames, and the fire bursting from the windows at the north- 
easterly corner. This was just at five o'clock. He instantly gave the 
alarm, and brought Mr. Gould, who had heard the stopping of the team, 
and was fully aroused, with Mr. Charles W. Wilson, tailor, from the 
same house, also Mr. Henry H. Downing, and Mr. Samuel A. Guilford, 
carpenter, both of Bedford Street, and William Howland, Esq., counsellor, 
of Hanover Street. The fire was seen filling the cells, while the unfor- 
tunate man could be discerned, lying upon his face, with his head close 



XVI THE CITY HALL. 

to the orated door, making- no sound, and seeming- without life or motion. 
The fire department not coming speedily to work, the i^ersous named, 
with a few more who joined them, brought water with buckets, and with 
all dispatch flooded the cells, and particularly the place around the 
victim, so as to check the fire and allow the rooms to be entered. As 
soon as this could be done, OflBicers James Stone and David S. Thrasher 
dislodged the body of the unhappy man from the pile of brands that 
partly had covered him, and brought it out from the ruin in a sadly dis- 
figured condition. Death, of course, was perfect. It only remained to 
take it to a fit shelter, and then to turn attention to the building. 

The fire, checked below, had meantime been working its way upward 
in the walls and partitions about the stairway ; and before the remains 
were well removed, it had burned through on the front pediment, and 
spread across to the north-west corner. All further access to the upper 
story by the staircase was now cut oif ; yet as the fire seemed to progress 
rather slowly, and the department were energetically at work, the de- 
struction of the building was not looked for, even then. But every 
moment showed the wider incursions of the flame, creeping unseen 
through the cavities of the dry old walls, and still breaking out afresh 
in spite of the exertions of the firemen. Had attention been drawn earlier 
in that direction, no doubt all the furniture of the second floor might have 
been saved ; but by seven o'clock it was seen to be hopeless to attempt to 
reach it. After consuming the whole upper front, the fire burned down 
from the roof upon the Council Chamber and the Court Room. A little 
while answered for the destruction of both. Nothing in either was saved, 
whether furniture, fixtures, or papers. Fortunately none of the latter of 
any special value had been left in the chamber, but such were lodged 
habitually in the Clerk's oflSce below. lu this office was a strong brick 
safe, in which were all the records of the city ; and to this, the ruin of the 
building being certain, attention was given at once. 

So far, nothing in the lower story was harmed except the cells iu which 
the fire begun. There was full opportunity to remove all the books and 
papers, and this was done without confusion, or the loss of valuable 
matter. Before its final subjection, the fire had burned through the 
upper floor immediately over the brick safe, and had destroyed a quan- 
tity of pamphlets and other printed matter, lying in small closets above. 
Here it was brought to an end. The Clerk's office was not materially 
injured, nor indeed any of the other rooms below; though the whole 
was deluged with water, and the remaining- shell had little of worth or 
character left to it. 



PRELIMINARY HISTORY. XVU 

With regard to the origin of the fire nothing was ever known. Among 
those best qnalified to judge, many and diverse theories have been held; 
but no new facts have been elicited. The man was searched by Marshal 
Thurston, before committal, so thoroughly as to make it improbable, 
though perhaps not impossible, that he had matches about him. The 
doors of the Ilall being fotnid unlocked bj' those first arriving, some were 
led to suspect the entrance of an incendiarj^ while others believed the 
fire to have been set from the outside, as might have been easily done 
through the front window. But nothing was certainly ascertained. The 
Old Town Hall was burned, and the poor man, who probably never 
entered it before, and whose previous character was fair, had gone to 
his death in a manner too dreadful for contemplation. His widow, 
during a few years, received a small gratuity from the city, and then 
died of consumption. The ruins were divided into several parts and 
removed, and now form portions of as many buildings in and about 
Beach Street. 

Thus the City Government were again without a local habitation. 
Rooms wei'C soon hired, however, in the large brick block of G. K. & 
H. A. Pevear, in Washington Street, west side, south of Munroe. The 
oflices here were first occupied on the 8th, two days after the fire. 
The accommodations were not highly convenient, however, and the 
movement for a new City Hall gained force rapidly. Events of the 
highest interest still point the historian to these rooms, and bid him 
remember that it was here, on the loth of April, 1805. at 2 o'clock, P.M., 
that the City Council met, on perhaps their most solenui occasion, and, 
with hardly a word of remark, passed their exjiressive resolves on the 
death of Abrahaim Lincoln. From this place also they went out to 
attend all the ceremonials that followed, relating to the last honors paid 
to that great and good man. 

At length, the '"Johnson estate." on Park Square, having been pur- 
chased and cleared, the disused house of Engine Co. Xo. 3 was removed 
thither from Broad Street, opposite the foot of Union, and fitted up for 
the Police Department. Soon after, a similar house, vacated by Engine 
Co. No. 6, was brought from Lewis Street, northern side, near Cliestnut, 
and, being placed beside the other, on the corner of Essex and Johnson 
Streets, received the Boards of Council and other departments. In these. 
as in shepherd's tents, the government dwelt till the completion and dedi- 
cation of the City Hall. The first building was then removed to Lalghton 
Street, and the second to Summer Street, west of the Saugus Branch 
Railroad, and both were made into school-houses. 



XVlll THE CITY HALL. 

Here terminates our preliminary history. In our own day much of it 
may seem the recital of things well known ; but these things fade quickly 
from the popular recollection, and we know uot how soon the thread may 
be lost, or who, in coming years, might search, painfully but unsuccess- 
fully, for the facts of our earlier municipal history. Even now it is not 
without effort that the links can be joined, and the story rightly told, 
whose moral concerns all our citizens. Of the five buildings where the 
town once met, only one, the "War Office," remains. The two ancient 
meeting-houses were torn down, the two Methodist Churches and the 
Town House were burned. To-day the representatives of our people 
meet in the first edifice worthy of them and their city, profited and in- 
structed, as we would ever hope, by the varying fortunes of two hundred 
and forty years. 



LEGISLATIVE HISTORY. 



REPORTS AND ORDERS. 



The following Orders, with Reports from Committees, 
are from the records of the City Council, showing their 
action with reference to purchasing a lot of land, build- 
ing a new City Hall, etc. 

The attention of the City Government was first di- 
rected to the necessity existing for a new City Hall by 
the following order : 

In Common Council, Feb. 18, 1863, on motion of 
James 8. Lewis, of Ward 4, it was " Ordered^ That the 
Committee on Public Property take into consideration 
the building of a new City Hall, and report thereon." 
In Board of Aldermen, March 2, on motion of Alder- 
man Patch, of Ward 4, the order was concurred in. 

On the above order the Committee on Public Property 
submitted to the Common Council, on the fourteenth 
of April, 1868. the following 

REPORT. 

" That a necessity exists for a new City Hall we think 
will be very generally admitted. The present building 



2 THE CITY HAi.L. 

is unsightly, incon^'cnicllt in its arrangements, and quite 
too small to accommodate the City Government and its 
various offices. Indeed, it is almost a disgrace. 

" Your committee are unanimously of the opinion that 
the present City (Government should initiate the pro- 
ceedings necessary to the construction of a building 
which, while it shall furnish the conveniences necessary 
to the discharge of the public business, shall, at the 
same time be an ornament to the city. 

" It may be said by some that while the country is en- 
gaged in a war, and our own citizens heavily taxed to 
bear their share of the public burdens, is not a fitting- 
time to venture upon so costly an enterprise. Its ne- 
cessity being granted, your committee do not think the 
objection named of sufficient w^eight to hinder the pros- 
ecution of the work, for while some sections of the 
country may have suffered largely, it is an undisputed 
fact that our community have scarcely seen a more pros- 
perous year than the past. 

" .Vnother objection that may be urged is that the 
building of a new City Hall will largely increase the 
permanent debt of the city. To meet this objection the 
committee would suggest that this enterprise should not 
be undertaken without providing for the expense in- 
curred by a sinking fund, which, while it shall not 
materially increase the present rate of taxation, shall 
be sufficient to extinguish the debt incurred thereby in 
ten or twelve years. 

" The interest of the debt will, in a great part, be met 
by the occupation of a portion of the building for pur- 
poses of a public character, for which we now pay a 
considerable sum of money in the Avay of rents. The 
building can be so constructed that the basement may 
be used for a lockup, which is an immediate necessity; 



I 



REPORTS AM) ORDERS. 3 

and wliicli it has recently been proposed to put in an- 
other building-, at considerable expense. It may also 
be used for the keeping of a steam fire engine, should 
one be procured, and for various other offices connected 
with the government. 

" If centrally located the building may also accommo- 
date the Public Library, and the several military organ- 
izations, rents for the accommodation of which are now 
an expense to the city. 

" In short, the committee are convinced that the extra 
interest will be but a small item to add to our current 
expenses. From a careful consideration of the matter, 
and from estimates made, they find that a building can 
be constructed, tasteful in its design, convenient in its 
arrangements, centrally located, and of sufficient dimen- 
sions to meet the wants of our city for many years to 
come, for a sum not exceeding seventy-five thousand 
dollars. They therefore recommend the adoption of 
the accompanying order. All of which is respectfully 
submitted." 

JOHN L. SHORE Y, 

JOHN ^y. BLANEY. 

AUGUSTUS B. l^rARTIN. 

\VALTER B. ALLEN. 

In Board of ?\Iayor and Aldermen, April 15. ISG-]. — 
The Connnittee on Public I^-operty, instituted as above, 
reported the following Order, which was adopted in 
concurrence : 

" Onh'rc'L That a Joint Special Committee be ap- 
pointed, to consist of His Honor the !\hiyor and three 
Aldermen, and five on the part of the Council, whose 
duty it shall be to obtain plans suitable for a new City 
Hall, with estimates of the cost of the same. Also, to 



4 THE CITY HALL. 

consider and report npon a snitable site on which the 
same shall be bnilt." 

The Mayor and Aldermen Shorey, Blaney and Wal- 
den, and on the part of the Conncil, Messrs. Allen, 
Ingalls, Lewis of Ward -1, Atkins and Winchester 
were appointed that committee. 

In Common Council, July 15, 1863, on motion of Mr. 
Lewis of Ward 4, it was — " Ordered^ That the sum of 
$15,000 be and is hereby appropriated for the purchase 
of a lot of land located at the corner of North Common 
and Essex Streets in this city, known as the ' Johnson 
Estate,' to be used for the purpose of erecting a new 
City Hall, and that His Honor the Mayor be authorized, 
under the direction of the Special Committer of the 
City Council on the New City Hall, to procure a proper 
legal conveyance of said lot to the city of Lynn. And 
it is further Ordered^ That to meet said appropriation, 
the City Treasurer be and hereby is duly authorized and 
instructed to issue bonds of this city to the amount of 
$15,000, bearing interest at the rate of five per cent, per 
annum, payable in twenty years in the manner provided 
by an Ordinance of this City relating to Permanent 
Loans, passed Sept. 15, 1862." 

The above Order was adopted, in concurrence, in the 
Board of Mayor and Aldermen, on the same evening. 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Dec. 29, 1863, — 
the jMayor, from the Joint Special Committee, to whom 
was referred the subject of procuring plans and esti- 
mates for building a new City Hall, presented a report 
which was accepted by this board, and the same con- 



REPORTS AND ORDERS. O 

currecl in by the Council, referring the subject to the 
next city government. 

Mayor Neal in his Address, Jan. 4:, lSb4, before both 
branches of the City Council, speaks of the new (*ity 
Hall as follows : — 

" Several matters of great importance will be likely 
to claim our attention at some time during the present 
municipal year. Among the first will probably be the 
construction of a new City Hall. A pressing necessity 
has long been felt for a more commodious building in 
which to transact the business of the city, than the one 
we now occupy. During the last year an opportunity 
offered for us to secure one of the most desirable sites 
for such a building that can be found within the pre- 
cincts of the city. It was purchased at a cost of fifteen 
thousand dollars ; and, although the price may appear 
large, yet when we consider the many advantages of the 
location, its proximity to one of our principal business 
streets, its delightful situation in respect to the Com- 
mon, and its being so near the centre of population, I 
think it will be pronounced a wise movement, and will 
give general satisfaction. 

" Even while our country is engaged in putting down 
one of the most gigantic rebellions that the world ever 
witnessed — one that would have long since sent any 
monarch of Europe tottering from his throne — while 
our resources are so largely drawn upon, and while we 
have sent our sons to the army by hundreds, we are 
largely increasing in population and material wealth ; 
and I venture to predict that the year 1874 will find 
the city of Lynn with forty thousand inhabitants, and 
a valuation of fifty per cent, more than at the present 
time. 



6 THE CITY HALL. 

" The building should therefore be constructed not 
for our convenience^ only, but in A'iew of this future in- 
crease, and should be paid for in regular yearly instal- 
ments, so that the burden shall fall alike upon us and 
those who will hereafter reap the advantages of such a 
building. It should be at once large, convenient, chaste, 
and an ornament to the city, without vain display, and 
in keeping with the character of our people. 

" I presume it will be thought best to procure a loan 
to pay for the Hall, if you should conclude to erect one 
the coming season. If so, I should advise that a city 
ordinance be passed, creating a sinking fund with which 
to meet these obligations at maturity. It is unwise, in 
more ways than one, to go into the market with our 
promises to pay at some distant day, without inaugurat- 
ing some plan by which the funds will be raised to meet 
the liabilities." 

In 13oard of Mayor and Aldermen, Jan. 11, 1H6J:, — 
Alderman Shorey from the Joint Special Committee in- 
structed to report what disposition shall be made of the 
several subjects of the Inaugural Address of the ^layor, 
presented a report which was accepted by the board 
and sent down for concurrence — referring as follows, 
viz : " The subject of erecting a City Hall to a Joint 
Special Committee, to consist of the Mayor, three 
Aldermen and five members of the Common Coun- 
cil." Appointed to constitute the aforesaid commit- 
tee, the Mayor and Aldermen Shorey, Blaney and Wal- 
den on the part of this board. Joined on the part of 
the Council, the President and members Allen, Pease. 
Newhall of AA'ard 4. Watts and Winchester. 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Aug. lo. 1S()4, — 



REPORTS AND ORDERS. 1 

''''Ordered, That the Committee on Public Property be in- 
structed to consider the expediency of purchasing the 
hmd in the rear of the (.*ity Hall lot, upon Johnson 
Street, and report at what price the same can be pur- 
chased." Cyoncurred in Common (/ouncil. 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Oct. 10, 1864, — 
" Ordered, in concurrence. That the Joint Special C'om- 
mittee who were instructed by an order of the City 
Council to obtain plans and estimates for a new City 
Hall be requested to report at as early a day as a proper 
consideration of the matter will allow."' 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Oct. 17, 1864, — 
Alderman Shorey, from the Committee on Public Prop- 
erty instructed by order of the City (Council to consider 
the expediency of purchasing the land on Johnson St., 
in the rear of the new City Hall lot, having reported 
thereon, the following order was adopted and concurred 
in by the Council, viz : 

•' Ordered, That the sum of six thousand seven hun- 
dred dollars be taken from the Contingent Fund, and 
applied to the purchase of the land, as reported by the 
Committee on Public Property, to be added to the land 
known as ' (Uty Hall Lot.' ' 

Subsequently seven hundred dollars were added to 
cover the expenditures. 

Mayor Neal in his Inaugural Address delivered Jan. 
2, 1865, refers to the new City Hall, as follows : 

•' The old City Hall was destroyed by lire in October, 
which w ould not have been a matter of much serious 



8 THE CITY HALL. 

consequence, had it not been for the mehmcholy affair 
connected with it — the death of Mr. Bond, who per- 
ished in the flames. Although I have no idea that the 
city is liable to the surviving wddow for damages, yet if 
there is an) legal way in which we could grant her a 
gratuity, 1 should most assuredly be in favor of doing it. 
" The destruction of the hall makes it more necessary 
for us to move in providing a new one. This is a sub- 
ject that will probably claim your early and serious con- 
sideration, as it did of the last City Government ; who 
did not, however, see their way clear to make contracts 
for erecting such a building as is required, inasmuch as 
they were burdening the city with a large debt for mili- 
tary purposes. I feel greatly encouraged in the belief 
that seems to be pretty general among military men, 
that the present, even, if not the last call for men, is 
nearly so. When these demands cease, we can well 
afford larger outlays for improvements that must be 
made at no very distant day." 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Jan. 2, 1865, — • 
An order to provide for the appointment of a Joint 
Special Committee to report plans and estimates for the 
speedy erection of a new City Hall came up from the 
Council, and on motion of Alderman Patch was laid on 
the table. 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Feb. 14, 1865, — 
Alderman Allen, from the Joint Special Committee to 
whom was referred the order relative to the several 
subjects embraced in the Inaugural Address of the 
Mayor, presented a report, recommending (among oth- 
ers) the following reference, viz : 

" The subject of a new City Hall to a Joint Special 



REPORTS AND ORDERS. 9 

Committee, to consist of two members of the Board of 
Mayor and Aldermen and three members of the C'om- 
mon Conncil. 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Feb. 20, 1865, — 
On motion of Alderman Allen, the order relating to 
the speedy erection of a new City Hall was taken from 
the table and considered ; and, on motion of Alderman 
Stacey, the same was non-concurred in. 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, March 6, 1865, — 
The Joint Special Committee on the subjects of the 
Inaugural Address of the Mayor, having reported an 
order in the Council, the same was adopted in concur- 
rence by this Board, as follows, viz : 

" Ordered, That a Joint Special Committee be ap- 
pointed, to consist of the Mayor and two Aldermen, 
and the President and three members of the Common 
Council, whose duty it shall be to procure plans and 
estimates in relation to the erection of a City Hall, and 
report the same to the City Council as soon as practi- 
cable. 

" And said Committee are hereby authorized to ex- 
pend, in the execution of their duty, a sum not exceed- 
ing fifty dollars, which shall be charged to the amount 
of contingencies." 

Appointed for said Committee, the Mayor and Alder- 
men Allen and Stacey. Joined on the part of the 
Council, members Pease, Uoak and Aborn. 

" Ordered, March 20, 1865, That the above-named 
Committee sell, at public auction, the dwelling-house 
3 



10 TJIK (11^ HAI.L. 

standing u])oii the City Hall lot, which was purchased 
of Mr. ii. L. (damage, the ])rocccds to he paid into the 
(•ity Treasury." 

In IjOiird of Nhiyor and Aldermen, June 19, 18()5, — 
I'he report of the Joint Special Committee to ])rocure 
plans and estimates for a new City Hall was read and 
accepted, and the accompanying order unanimously 
adopted in concurrence, as follows, viz : 

'' Ordered, 'lliat the j)lans ]n-ei)ared by the Joint 
Special Committee on the subject of a new C'ity Hall, 
and this day submitted by (xridley J. F. Bryant and 
Arthur (jilman, architects, be adopted as being in gen- 
eral conformity with the unanimous views of said Com- 
mittee, as to the style and requirements of a Hall for 
the City of Lynn." 

*' Ordered, That a Building Committee, to consist of 
the Mayor and two Aldermen, the President and three 
members of the Common Council, be appointed, and 
that they be and hereby are authorized and requested 
to cause the necessary working plans and specifications 
of the structure to be prepared by the architects, and to 
cause the foundations and basement Avails to be con- 
structed and erected preA'ious to the first day of Decem- 
ber of the present year." 

Appointed for said committee, the Mayor, and Alder- 
men Allen and Stacey. Joined on the part of the 
C'Ouncil, the President, and members Pease, Hoak and 
Abom. 

In Common Council, Aug. 28, 1865, — The Special 



UKl'DltlS AM) OHDKRS. 



11 



Committee to whom was referred the ckity of building 
foundation walls and basement story of the Xew City 
Hall, have duly attended to the matter, and beg leave 
to submit the following- piiitial lie))()i-t and recom- 
mendation : 

" According to authority ^■ested in us by vote of City 
Council, June 1:3. 1865, we, your committee have con- 
tracted for the construction of the foundations, and base- 
ment walls of the structure, with ^Messrs. Edwin Adams 
and (jalvin & Currie. at the price of sixteen thousand 
six hundred and thirty-four dollars and fifty cents, pay- 
able as the Avork progresses, the city reserving at all 
times twenty-five per cent., at least, of what the work 
and materials has actually cost till after the AA'hole job is 
completed and accepted by the architects and the com- 
mittee. It will be neccessary for us to expend the fur- 
ther sum of |"2,500 for labor and materials, to put on 
the first floor of the structure and to grade the lot, to 
complete what you have already authorized us to do be- 
fore the fu'st of December of the present year. AVe 
therefore request you to provide the sum of f 20,000 to 
enable us to fulfil our contracts with those who are doing 
the work. 

" Your committee are firndy impressed with the belief 
that the time has fully arrived for prosecuting with 
vigor the erection of the City Hall, ^^'e believe that 
contracts for the remainder of the job can be made 
more favorably this fall than next spring, as contractors 
can thus have several months in which to procure ma- 
terials and make all necessary arrangements to complete 
the structure during the next year. AA'e would there- 
fore ask for authority to put under contract the furnish- 
ing of the materials and doing the labor on said City 



12 



THE CITY HALL. 



Hall, agreeably to the working- plans and sj^eciiications 
now in process of preparation by the architects, G. F. 
Bryant & A. Oilman. 

For the Committee. 

P. M. NEAL, Chairman." 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Ang. 28, 1865, — 
A report of the Joint Special Committee on Building a 
New City Hall came up and was read, and in accord- 
ance with a recommendation contained therein, the fol- 
lowing order was adopted in concurrence, by a two- 
thirds vote, by yea and nay, six Aldermen being present 
and voting in the affirmative : 

'''Ordered, That the City Treasurer be and hereby is 
authorized to borrow, for a term not exceeding two 
years, the sum of twenty thousand dollars, and to give 
notes of the City therefor. Said sum, or such part 
thereof as may be required, to be expended under the 
direction of the Joint Special Committee, for construct- 
ing the foundation and basement of the new City Hall, 
to defray the expense thereof, and for plans and speci- 
fications prepared by Messrs. Bryant and Gilman, ar- 
chitects." 

On motion of Alderman Patch, an order reported by 
the above-named committee, on the erection of a New 
City Hall, authorizing said committee to put the build- 
ing under contract, to be completed the iirst of January, 
1867, was laid on the table. Assigned for consideration 
at the next regular meeting of the board, together with 
said Report, so far as the same relates to the general 
contract. 



REPORTS AND ORDERS. 



13 



In Board of ^layor and Aldermen. Sept. 4. I860, — 
The report of the Joint Special Committee on new City 
Hall was taken from the table and the accompanying 
order relating to contracting for the completion of the 
whole bnilding, was read and considered, and on motion 
of Alderman Breed, the same was adopted, by a yea 
and nay vote, as follows, viz: yeas. Aldermen Allen, 
Breed, Lewis, Newhall, Patch and Stacey; absent Al- 
dermen Paul and Tapley. 

" Ordered, in concurrence. That the Joint Special Com- 
mittee on the erection of the new City Hall heretofore 
authorized to contract for the foundations and basement 
walls of the building, be and they are hereby authorized 
and instructed to contract for the remaining works of 
the structure necessary for the erecting and enclosing 
the skeleton, and for the interior finish thereof — said 
contract to be awarded, under public advertisements, to 
responsible and competent mechanics, and to be made 
with special reference to having so much of the work 
and material prepared during the coming autumn and 
winter as may be consistent with proper construction, 
to enable active operations to be commenced above the 
basement story of the building in early spring of 1866, 
with the hope that such progress may be made as to 
admit of inaugurating the government of 1867 in the 
new structure." 

On the "iSth of December, 1865, the following re- 
port was accepted : 

" The Committee on Building City Hall, to Avhom 
was referred the l)uilding of the same, have duly con- 
sidered the matter, and bee: leave to submit the accom- 
panying report. 



14 THE (ITY liAl-L. 

" According to order of City Government, your com- 
mittee desired to ])ljice the whole building under con- 
tract before the close of the present year ; but as yet 
they have onl} contracted for building the foundation 
and basement story. The plans and specifications have 
been prepared, and bids for building have been called 
for. — which were opened on Saturday, the 16tli inst. ; 
but as they were not satisfactory to the connnittee, in 
their present form, it is deemed most expedient to refer 
the bids, and the whole matter of completing the Hall, 
to the next City Government. 

For the Committee. 

P. M. XEAL, Chairman." 

The Common Council accepted the above report 
Dec. 29. 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Dec. 28, 1865. — 
The Mayor, from the Joint Special Committee to whom 
was referred the subject of erecting a new C'ity Hall, 
presented a report, which was accepted and sent down 
for concurrence, recommending the reference of said 
subject, together with the plans and specitications, and 
the proposals to build, to the next City Government. 

Acceptance of the report and reference of the subject 
concurred. 

Mayor Usher, in his Inaugural Address before the 
City Council, Jan. 1, 1866, makes the following state- 
ment in regard to the City Hall : 

" Within the past year the basement of the City Hall 
has been placed under contract, and at the present time 
is near completion. Proposals have been solicited for 



UKrours AM) ORDKKS. 1 • 3 

the completion of the buikliiig. but what ])ro«>rcss has 
been made I am unable to say. Xo little credit is due 
to the retiring- government for the promptness and en- 
ergy tliev have brought to bear upon this work. I trust 
nothing will be found wanting to push the matter to an 
(>arlv completion, and thus furnish another evidence of 
our enterprise and increasing prosperity. That the 
^tructure, when completed, under the plans adopted, 
will })resent to our citizens a building of such architec- 
tural beauty as shall be an honor to our city, none who 
liavo examined those plans can, T think, fail to admit.' 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen. J;in. S. 18(i(). — 
.Vlderman .Vllen offered the following order, which was 
adopted and sent down for concurrence, viz. : 

•• Ordcrcih That a Joint Special C ommittee be ap- 
pointed, to consist of the ^Nlayor, three Aldermen, the 
President and five members of the Common Council, 
who shall have charge of all papers, materials, or other 
matters connected with the building of a new City Hall, 
conniienced last year upon the lot opposite Park Square 
in this city ; said committee to be intrusted with the 
expenditure of all funds which have been provided or 
wliicli may hereafter be appropriated for building said 
Hall, and also with the suj)erintendence of the -work, to 
see that the conditions of the contracts already made 
for constructing the basement of said building are f;iith- 
fully observed, and the work done as seasonablv as 
may be. 

" 'lliat the plans, specifications and contracts com- 
menced, and in ])!!rt completed, under the direction of a 
similar connnittee last year, be perfected and carried 
throuojh. to the end that said Citv I fall mav be built 



/ 



^ 



16 THE CITY HALL. 

and finished as soon as may be deemed consistent with 
the proper and thorough performance of the intended 
work." Adopted in concurrence Jan. 11. 

Appointed for said committee on the part of this 
Board : the Mayor, and Aldermen Allen, Stacey, and 
Pease. Joined on the part of the Council : the Presi- 
dent, and members Warren, Sweetser, Davis, Doak and 
Lewis. 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, June 25, 1866, — 
The Joint Special Committee on New City Hall, to 
whom was referred the plans, specifications, and other 
papers pertaining thereto, together with proposals re- 
ceived by the C'ity Government of 1865, respectfully 
submit the following 

REPORT. 

" Immediately after the organization of your commit- 
tee, in January last, they proceeded to examine and 
review the reports and action of their predecessors, and 
to revise the estimates received by them for the com- 
pletion of the building above the basement. Feeling 
something of the responsibility of their position, the 
extent of the work committed to them, the present and 
future reputation of the city as marked by the character 
of its public buildings, — not only our pressing, im- 
mediate wants, but with an eye to the future require- 
ments of a growing city, whose energy and enterprise 
are fast centralizing the business in which we are 
especially engaged — the peculiar attractions of our 
city as a place of residence — all mark the time as not 
far distant when our population shall be counted at 
fifty thousand and more. With a business staple, 



REPORTS AND ORDERS. 17 

though subject to fluctuations, as all other branches, yet 
steadily increasing ; with marked individual enterprise 
and energy among our people ; with the fact that the 
present plan was unanimously adopted by our prede- 
cessors, after no little consideration, — the times, cir- 
cumstances, and condition of things generally have im- 
pressed upon your committee the imperative duty of 
contracting for the work and materials required in con- 
structing the walls and roofing in of the same during 
the present year, notwithstanding the cost of the build- 
ing will considerably exceed the estimates made at the 
commencement of the enterprise. 

" They arrived at this conclusion after frequent and 
protracted consultations, calling to their aid the best 
mechanical advisers, and seeking such other informa- 
tion as was within then* power. 

" It being believed that proposals might be obtained 
more favorable, in many respects, than those heretofore 
submitted, new proposals were solicited, and your com- 
mittee are gratified in being able to report that all con- 
tracts thus far closed by them — embracing freestone, 
brick work, iron and carpentry — have been made at 
a reduction, for the same work, from the lowest bids of 
1865. In the item of freestone alone upwards of ten 
thousand dollars has been saved to the city by the cor- 
rect judgment of the committee of last year, in declining 
to accept the lowest ofi'ers made. 

" Your committee have yet to contract for the items 
of slating, trimming, coppering, gutters and conductors, 
necessary for the completion of the exterior of the 
building. We are fully of the opinion, however, that 
contracts as favorable, or more so, can be entered into 
early in the fall as at the present time, — which is quite 
as soon as any of the respective works above named 
4 



18 THE CITY HALL. 

will be required. It is fhe full intention of your com- 
mittee, and so named in their instructions to the archi- 
tect, that under no circumstances is the inclosure of the 
skeleton of the building to be delayed or left incomplete 
beyond Dec. 1, 1866. They have accordingly directed 
all contracts to be drawn with strict reference to the 
full accomplishment of this end, and affixed penalties 
in each contract for any failure of the same. 

" Your committee would further report, that it is 
their intention, under the authority vested in their pre- 
decessors, and continued to themselves by vote of the 
City Council, to arrange for the completion of the inte- 
rior of the building before the close of the present year. 
By so doing, the contractors will be enabled to avail 
themselves of the winter months for preparation, and 
apply the same in the early spring of 1867 ; believing 
that under this arrangement the structure can be com- 
pleted during the year 1867. 

"Your committee have awarded contracts as follows : 
Freestone, to Messrs. Galvin and Currie, for the sum 
of $52,500 ; brick work, to Edwin Adams, for the sum 
of 126,900 ; carpentry, to J. W. Tewksbury, for the 
sum of $11,775 ; iron work, to Messrs. Smith and 
Lovett, for the sum of |2,600. 

" To meet these contracts, it is necessary that an ap- 
propriation be made, and your committee respectfully 
ask that the sum of $100,000 be thus appropriated, for 
the purpose named, and also recommend the adoption 
of the accompanying order. 

R. G. USHER, 
Chairman Com. on New City Hall." 

" Ordered, That the Joint Standing Committee on 
Finance be, and hereby are, instructed to investigate 



REPORTS AND ORDERS. 



19 



and report as to the best mode to be adopted by the 
City Council to procure a loan of |1()(),()0(), the same 
to be appropriated to meet contracts made on new City 
Hall." 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, July 12, 1866, — 
The ^layor, from the Committee on Finance, to whom 
was referred the subject of procuring a loan for the 
new City Hall, presented a report, which was accepted, 
and the accompanying order adopted by a two-thii'ds 
vote, by yea and nay, and the same subsequently con- 
curred by the Council, as follows, viz. : 

" Ordered^ That the sum of one hundred thousand 
dollars be, and hereby is, appropriated for the new City 
Hall ; and to meet this appropriation the City Treasurer 
be, and hereby is instructed, under dkection of the 
Committee on Finance, to negotiate a loan of one hun- 
dred thousand dollars, by issuing city bonds to run 
twenty years from date of bonds, with coupons attached, 
bearing interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum, 
interest payable semi-annually." 

The following report was accepted in the Board of 
Aldermen and in ('ommon Council, Dec. 31, 1866: 

" The Joint Special Committee on New City Hall 
report that since theii- last report, respecting the con- 
tracts made for the construction of the Avails, roofing, 
and skeleton carpentry of the building, they have placed 
the interior finish and tower under the supervision of J. 
W. Tewksbury, Esq., and that the works are now pro- 
gressing as rapidly as the same will allow. 

" Your committee would recommend that the plans, 



20 THE CITY HALL. 

specifications, contracts and records of the committee, 
together with all other papers relating thereto, be re- 
ferred to the next City Government. 

R. G. USHER, Chairman Committee." 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Jan. 9, 1867, — 
" Ordered^ in concui^rence, That the contracts, plans and 
specifications, and all other papers relating to the new 
City Hall, be taken from the files of last year and re- 
ferred to a Joint Special Committee, consisting of the 
Mayor and three Aldermen, the President and five 
members of the Council. Also, that said committee 
are hereby instructed to use every endeavor to secure 
the completion of the building during the present mu- 
nicipal year." 

Appointed to constitute the aforesaid committee, the 
Mayor, and Aldermen Allen, Stacey and Pease ;' the 
President, and members Walden, Sweetser, Johnson, 
Stacey and Warren. 

Mayor Usher, in his Inaugural Address, Jan. 7, 1867, 
before both branches of the City Council, speaks of the 
new City Hall as follows : — 

"Within the past year the cellar and basement of the 
new City Hall have been completed, and the freestone 
and brick masonry for the walls, together with the roof- 
ing and the skeleton carpentry, have been placed under 
contract. This portion of the building is fast approach- 
ing completion, and gives our citizens some conception 
of what the building will be when finished in accordance 
with the plans adopted. To meet the expense of the 
contracts referred to, an appropriation of $100,000 was 



REPORTS AND ORDERS. 21 

made last year, for which six per cent, twenty-year 
bonds, with coupons attached, were issued. 

" The completion of the interior (and tower) of the 
building has been placed under the supervision of James 
W. Tewksbury, Esq., of this city, and we are encouraged 
to believe that the building will be ready for occupancy 
on the assembling of the city government for 1868. 
To carry on the work another appropriation will be 
necessary. I would recommend a further appropriation 
of $100,000, in six per cent, twenty-year bonds, for this 
purpose, with an addition of $20,000, on account of 
cellar and basement, which falls due the present year, 
making the total issue $120,000. These, with those 
heretofore issued, will make an aggregate of $220,000 
in six per cent, twenty-year bonds, — $100,000 to mature 
in 1886; $120,000 in 1887. To meet these bonds at 
the time of their falling due, I would recommend the 
setting aside of a certain amount annually (the same to 
be derived from the corporate tax), which sum, with the 
accumulated interest, should equal the amount of said 
bonds at maturity ; this sinking fund to be placed in 
the hands of commissioners duly appointed for that 
purpose. To thus provide for such annual and per- 
manent appropriation, it will be necessary to apply to 
the Legislature for authority. By the establishment of 
such a fund, these bonds would be met with little or no 
embarrassment to the city, — the annual appropriation 
for this purpose being so small (less than $7,000), it 
would cause but a trifling inconvenience, and would 
add but a small per centum to the amount raised by 
taxation. This plan equalizes also the burdens arising 
from the liquidation of so large a debt, as the tax-payers 
of the next twenty years will share with us their pro- 
portion of the expense. It would be both injudicious 



22 THE CITY HALL. 

and unjust for us to pay the entire expense, and equally 
so to do nothing towards such liquidation." 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Jan. 21, 1867, — 
On motion of Alderman Pease, the following order was 
adopted and sent down for concurrence, viz. : 

" Ordered, That the Mayor be, and hereby is, requested 
to petition the Legislature, in behalf of the City Council, 
for authority to create a sinking fund by the laying of 
an assessment of six thousand dollars upon the real 
and personal property of this city annually ; the first 
assessment to be laid the present year, and continued as 
above for twenty successive years, the same to be placed 
in the hands of three or more commissioners, elected by 
the City Council, who shall invest the same annually, 
and the accrued interest semi-annually. 

" Also, that the principal and accumulated interest of 
the same shall be pledged to the payment of bonds 
already issued, on account of the new City Hall, at 
maturity, and to the payment of any other bonds that 
may be issued for the completion of said building, and 
to no other purpose, excepting such balance as may 
appear to be on hand after the above-named bonds have 
been paid and taken up." 

Adopted in concurrence by the Council. 



In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Jan. 29, 1867, — 
The following order was adopted in concurrence by a 
yea and nay vote, viz. : 

" Ordered^ That the sum of one hundred thousand 
dollars be, and hereby is, appropriated to defray the 



REPORTS AND ORDERS, 23 

expense of finishing the new City Hall, the same to be 
expended under the direction of the Joint Special Com- 
mittee on said building. 

'' Also, that the further sum of twenty thousand dol- 
lars be, and hereby is, appropriated for the payment of 
notes authorized to be given on account of the cellar 
and basement of the building, in the year 1865, and 
falling due the present year. 

•• And that the City Treasurer, to meet the above- 
named appropriations, be, and hereby is, authorized to 
negotiate a loan of $120,000, by issuing city bonds, with 
coupons attached, and bearing interest at the rate of six 
per cent, per annum ; to run twenty years from the date 
of said bonds, with interest payable semi-annually." 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Aug. 5, 1867, — 
The Mayor, from the Joint Special Committee on Xew 
(y'ity Hall, presented the following report, which was 
accepted : 

" Your committee will further report, that they have 
made a careful estimate respecting the additional appro- 
priations needed to carry on the work to completion, 
including the furnishing of the building, fencing, grad- 
ing of the lot, etc., and feel quite confident that it will 
not exceed the sum called for in the order reported 
($57,000), thereby bringing the entire cost of the estab- 
lishment within the sum of $300,000. 

" Your committee also take pleasure in reporting that 
they see no reason, at present, why the building will 
not be ready for occupancy by the last of November 
next. 

R. G. USHER, 

Chairman Joint Special Committee."' 



24 THE CITY HALL. 

In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Aug. 5, 1867, — 
" Ordered^ That a sum not exceeding $57,000, or such 
portion of the same as may be necessary, be and the 
same is hereby appropriated to defray the expense of 
finishing the new City Hall, the same to be expended 
under the direction of the Joint Special Committee on 
said building. 

" And that the City Treasurer, to meet the above 
appropriation, be and hereby is authorized to issue and 
negotiate city bonds, with coupons attached, payable 
semi-annually, said bonds bearing interest at the rate 
of six per cent, per annum, and payable on the 15th 
day of February, 1887." 

Adopted by a two-thirds vote, by yea and nay, seven 
Aldermen voting in the affirmative, one absent. Con- 
curred in like manner by the Council, Aug. 8. 

On the 23d of September, 1867, both branches ac- 
cepted the following report, and adopted the accom- 
panying order : 

" The Joint Special Committee on New City Hall 
respectfully report, that the building is so far advanced 
toward completion as to warrant them in recommending 
the appointment of the 30th day of November next for 
the dedication of the same. 

R. G. USHER, Chairman Committee." 

" Ordered^ That the Joint Special Committee on New 
City Hall be, and hereby are, authorized to make the 
necessary arrangements for appropriate exercises on 
the occasion of the dedication of the building, on the 
30th of November next." 



REPORTS AND ORDERS. 25 

The following report was accepted by both branches, 
Jan. 2, 1868 : 

" A portion of the basement story is not yet finished, 
and the fixtures for the Public Library are still to be 
placed in the hall. 

" The exterior work, including fencing and grading, 
also remains to be done when the opening of another 
season will admit. 

" The last contract (that for the iron fence and stone 
gateway) is now definitely closed. All the principal 
contractors, whose work has been ended, have been 
settled with, and no instance of litigation or dispute 
has thus far arisen. 

" Your committee would recommend that the next 
City Council should, immediately after their organiza- 
tion, appoint the committee who are to succeed us in 
the charge of the unsettled matters pertaining to the 
establishment, and would also beg leave to recommend 
that all papers connected with the enterprise be referred 
to the City Council of 1868. 

E,. G. USHER, Chaii'man Committee." 



[Note. — The followino- is the Eeport of the Joint Special Committee, 
introducing the plans of the new editice, and referred to on p. 10. second 
paragraph, but not there cited.] 

In Common Council, June 13, 1865. 

The undersigned, members of the Joint Special Com- 
mittee to whom was referred the matter of procuring 
plans and specifications of a new City Hall, having 



26 THE CITY HALL. 

fully considered the subject committed to them, now 
ask leave to 

REPORT. 

Your Committee consider it needless for them to do 
more than allude to the strong necessity which has long 
existed for suitable accommodation for nearly all the 
branches of the city government of Lynn. The only 
building which has ever been used for the purpose — 
previous to our present temporary occupancy of hired 
premises — was the old Town Hall, originally erected 
on the Common as long ago as the year 1814. A com- 
mon frame building, of no particular beauty of appear- 
ance or convenience of arrangement, it was removed to 
South Common Street in the year 1832, and repaired, 
but not materially enlarged or otherwise improved on 
the formation of the city government in 1850. It was 
destroyed by fire in the month of October, 1864, and 
we are therefore at present without any provision for a 
suitable or convenient municipal structure. 

The necessity of seeking more spacious and proper 
quarters than those afforded in the old Town Hall 
building, even before its destruction, had been agitated 
by the successive governments of our city for several 
years. As far back as the year 1859, it will be recol- 
lected that the matter was referred to the people, and 
the citizens were then requested to decide at the polls 
whether or not they would undertake the building of a 
new Hall at that time. The question was then decided 
by a large majority against the proposition. But with 
the growth and rapid improvement of the city a con- 
siderable change in the feeling then expressed seems 
to have been effected in the minds of our community. 
The subject was again brought up in the year 1863, in 



REPORTS AND ORDERS. 21 

a more decided form, and a lot was then purchased, 
which is believed to present one of the most appropriate 
and beautiful locations for the purpose to be found 
within the limits of the city. Several plans were ob- 
tained at that time, but none of them in a fully matured 
form, and the prices of work and material becoming so 
excessively high, the matter was finally referred to the 
next city government, for such continued action as should 
appear to be warranted by the circumstances of the time. 

Another committee was accordingly appointed in the 
year 1864:, and the consideration of the subject was 
resumed by them, and continued, with more or less of 
attention, through a good portion of the municipal year. 
After bestowing much thought and attention upon the 
matter of plans, the subject was laid on the table in 
the Board of Aldermen, and thus no decided action was 
reached upon the main question in that year. 

With the commencement of the present municipal 
year the matter has again come up for consideration, 
and a Joint Special Committee was appointed, with the 
generally expressed expectation that decided measures 
of progress should be taken by them during their ap- 
pointed term of office. Convinced that the true inter- 
ests of the city require the erection, at an early day, 
of a neat and commodious City Hall, equal not only to 
the present, but, in a fair and reasonable degree, to the 
future and prospective wants of the city, your committee 
have felt that it behooved them to proceed with their 
duties without delay. Messrs. G. J. F. Bryant and A. 
Gilman, Architects of the City Hall of Boston, and of 
many other widely known public and private structures 
in this vicinity, were accordingly called upon for plans 
for a suitable edifice, and, under the continued instruc- 
tion and supervision of your committee, liave produced 



28 THE CITY HALL. 

the designs which are herewith presented for your ap- 
proval. 

It may not be improper for your committee to state, 
in this connection, that they have arrived at this con- 
clusion with great and perhaps unusual unanimity. 
They believe that they have caused to be prepared a 
plan embodying the matured convictions of their best 
judgment, arrived at after very considerable comparison 
and discussion, and one which has been designed and 
arranged under their own immediate direction and su- 
perintendence. Several of your committee have had 
considerable experience personally — extending over 
quite a lengthened term of inquiry — into the various 
requirements of a structure like the one now proposed, 
as well as into the best and most feasible methods of 
meeting these requirements in a satisfactory manner. 
Aided by the advice and assistance of several of the 
city officers, — particularly in regard to the relative 
position and accommodation of the several apartments, 
— they are led to believe that they have availed them- 
selves with considerable thoroughness of whatever in- 
formation is likely to be most practically useful in a 
subject involving, it must be admitted, many, at first 
sight, apparently difficult details of distribution, econ- 
omy and taste. 

As a concise and convenient mode of conveying a 
summary of the arrangement, accommodation and style 
of the proposed structure, we append the following 
letter of description which accompanied the plans, as 
drawn up by the architects for our information. Taken 
in connection with the plans and perspective view here- 
with presented, it is believed that it will suffice to give 
a correct idea of the more important items for which 
we have endeavored to make provision. 



REPORTS AND ORDERS. 29 

[Here follows a very full statement by the architects, now omitted, as 
being found substantiallj' in another part of this volume. The report 

concludes] : — 

Such is a brief outline of the character and arrange- 
ment of the buikling, which, in the opinion of your 
committee, will meet the wants and accommodate the 
municipal business of our city for some time to come. 
They believe that if contracted for in a prudent and 
economical manner, and of suitable materials, it will 
fully satisfy the just expectations of the public, and 
reflect credit on all concerned in its erection. 

P. M. NEAL, -J 

JESSE L. ATTWILL, 

THOMAS STAGEY, 

WALTER B. ALLEN, ). Committee. 

BENJ. F. DOAK, 2d, 

EDWARD PEASE, 

C. H. ABORN. 3 



SINKING-FUND ACT. 



An appropriate conclusion to this part of our history 
is found in the Act of the Legislature of 1867, chap. 95, 
by which provision was made for payment of the cost 
of the new structure. The Act is as follows : — 

An Act to Authorize the City of Lynn to Provide 
FOR A Sinking Fund. 

Be it enacted, 8fc., as folloivs : — 

Section L The City of Lynn is hereby authorized 
to raise by taxation, upon the polls and estates in said 
city, a sum not less than six thousand dollars, nor more 
than ten thousand dollars, annually, until the maturity 
of the bonds hereafter mentioned, which said sum, with 
the interest and accumulations thereon, shall constitute 
a sinking-fund, for the redemption at maturity of the 
bonds of said city which have been or hereafter may 
be issued to raise funds to pay for the City Hall now 
building in said city : and said sinking-fund shall be 
appropriated and pledged to the payment and redemp- 
tion of said bonds, and for no other purpose, until the 
same shall have been fully redeemed. 



SI>'KING-FUND ACT. 31 

Sect. '2. The City Council of said city, by the con- 
current vote of the two branches thereof, is authorized 
to appoint three commissioners of said sinking-fund, 
who shall have the care and management of all the 
moneys, funds and securities at any time belonging to 
said sinking-fund, and who also shall, from time to time, 
invest the same in the bonds of said city, the public 
securities of the United States, either of the New Eng- 
land States, and of the State of New York, and of the 
counties, cities, and towns of this Commonwealth, in 
any railroad stocks in which savings banks may invest 
their funds, in the stock of any bank located in this 
Commonwealth, and in loans secured bv mortgage of 
real estate ; and they may sell, transfer, and re-invest 
from time to time, the stock and securities belonging to 
said fund. 

Sect. 3. Said commissioners shall keep a true record 
of all their proceedings, and annually, in the month of 
January, make a report in writing to the City Council 
of said city, of the amount and condition of said fund 
and the income thereof for the year ; which record, and 
all the securities belonging to said fund, shall at all 
times be open to the inspection of the Mayor, or any 
committee of either branch of the City Council of said 
city appointed for that purpose. 

Sect. 4. At the first election of commissioners, one 
shall be chosen to hold office for the term of three 
years, one for the term of two years, and one for the 
term of one year, and in each year thereafter one com- 
missioner shall be chosen, to hold office for three years ; 
and in case of a vacancy by death, resignation, or other- 
wise, such vacancy shall be filled by the choice of some 
person to hold office during the unexpired term. The 
necessary expenses of said commissioners shall be paid 



32 THE CITY HALL. 

by said city, but they shall receive no compensation for 
their services. 

Sect. 5. The balance of said sinking-fund, if any 
there be after the payment of said bonds, shall be paid 
into the treasury of said city. 

(Approved March 23, 1867.) 

Under the provisions of the above Act there were 
elected, Sept. 9, 1867, as the Commissioners therein 
mentioned, William S. Boyce,* Amos P. Tapley,t and 
Henry Newhall,^ Esqs. The successive re-elections 
have been of the same persons, who are still in office. 

* President First National Bank, t President National City Bank. 

t President Central National Bank. 



LAYING THE CORNER STONE. 



LAYING THE COKNER STONE. 



The constructioii of the foundation walls of the new 
building were sufficiently advanced by Tuesday, the 
•i8th of November, 1865, to allow the corner stone to 
be laid, and that day was accordingly selected for the 
exercises proper to that occasion. Those in charge of ' 
the work had conceived the design of introducing the 
prescribed Masonic ceremonies usual in such cases ; 
but a feeling of popular opposition to this having 
shown itself in a remonstrance addressed to the City 
Council, the plan was relinquished. 

For the simple proceedings that remained, there was 
given a tine autumnal day, cool and clear, one well 
adapted to any exercises that might ha^e been pre- 
ferred. But slight announcement had been made, and 
the company assembled was correspondingly small. 
Those passing stopped to see and hear, and perhaps 
a hundred persons were present in all. At twelve 
o'clock, noon, the ^layor. Peter M. Neal. Esq., took 
his place upon the foundation at the north-easterly 
corner, and after a few remarks appropriate to the 
occasion, introduced Rev. Charles W. Biddle,* chaplain 
of the day. 

Mr. Biddle proceeded to offer prayer in feeling and 
impressive terms, seeking the Divine favor for the edi- 

* Then, as now, pastor of the First Universalist Church, Union Street. 



36 THE CITY HAJ.L. 

fice, its purposes and its uses, for those who built, and 
those who should occupy its halls, and as well for the 
people in whose behalf and in whose interest the enter- 
prise had been designed. 

Mayor Neal then stated that the .metallic box in- 
tended for deposit beneath the stone had been prei)ared 
and sealed up, containing a a ariety of documents of 
local and historical interest. A list of these would 
appear in the newspapers. It only remained to i)lace 
them where they were intended to lie. 

The box was then placed in the cavity prepared for 
it, the stone swung to its position by the workmen, the 
trowel did its work, and the people quietly went their 
ways. 

The list of documents was afterwards given, with an 
account of the proceedings, in the Ltjnn Weeldij Beporfer 
of the ensuing Saturday, Dec. 2. From this article we 
quote the following portion, as supplying some points 
of history not before given : — 

" The box which has been referred to was of copper, 
made double, with a layer of charcoal between the two 
walls. The outside dimensions were KM by 7] inches, 
with a depth of five inches ; the inside, about an inch 
less each way. This box contained the following docu- 
ments : — 

A compK'te list of all soldiers and sailors who t'ulistrd from KSdl 
to 1.S65 for the ([uota of Lynn, and who served in the I'nited States 
Army or Navy ; Municipal Kej>-isters of l.S()4 and 1«<).> ; auto.uraphs 
of the Buildin<>- Conunittee of New City Hall ; phot()j>Ta])hs of Xew 
City Hall, with names of the arehiteets ; Iiniu_i;iiral Addn-ss of Mayor, 
IHGo ; Re))orts of School Committee, Chief Knj4'inet'r of FWv De- 
partment, Committee on Accounts, Commissioners of Pine (irove 
Cemetery, City Physicijin, Chief of Police, and City Treasurer, for 
1)SG4 ; I-,ynn Directory, and Map of the City; Prt'sideiit Lincoln's 



LAYING THE CORNER STONE. 37 

Emaucipatiou rroclamatiou, and last Message to Conoress ; plioto- 
graph of President Lincoln ; History of Lynn, by Lewis and Xi-u- 
hall ; copies of the Lynn Reporter and Lynn Bulletin ; specimens of 
postal currency, copper and silver coins, and postage and revenue 
stamps ; Revised Ordinances of the City ; Massachusetts Acts and 
Resolves of 18fi5. . 

Besides the above, the foUowmg interesting historical 
address, prepared by the Mayor, and which would have 
been delivered by him had the other ceremonies taken 
place as originally designed, was placed in the box, by 
re(piest of the members of the Building Committee and 
other citizens : — 

Mr. ('hatniuui, — In conformity with arningements pre\iously 
made liy the Building C'onnnittee appointed l)y the City Council, in 
vour presence, gentlemen, an<l in the presence of this lai-ge concoui'se 
of our fellow-citizens, at your re([uest, sir, on this 2)Sth day of No- 
vend)er, 1.SG5, we will proceed to perform the agreeable duty of laying 
the corner stone of a new City Mall for the City of Lynn. 

(}(>iiflrni<'ii of the Cifi/ (JoattriK — The Building Connnittec have 
so far carried out your orders as to contract for laying the foundation 
walls and for buihling the l)asement story of this Hall. Such i)rogress 
has been made, it becomes necessaiy, if <h)ne at all, in conformity 
with an ohl ('stal)lished usage, to deposit under the corner stone some 
little nicmrnto of the present time. — some keepsakes, some messages 
of love to our eliildren's children, — to be read and pondered by them 
long years after we have passed away. The thought to me, th.>ugli 
solenm. is a pleasing one, tliat many years lu-nce, when these walls 
shall Ite (lestroved and this box remove<l, tin- eontents will l)e i)re- 
served and treasured as a rich gift from the fathers of ISi;,") to their 

children of 1!>— . 

I am liai)i)y to state that the eommittcH' ha\-e l)estowed much patient 
labor, not only upon the plans they have presented to you. and which 
Vt)U have a(h)pted, but upon many others. Thi'y have combined, 
compared, arranged and re-arranged, and, with the assistance of the 
architects, (i. J. F. Bryant and Arthur (iilman, they have presented 
to you, with unicli confidence, plans nearly perfect in all their parts. 



88 THE CITY HALL. 

The airliiti'ctn have been in(letkti>>iibk' in their exertions to carry out 
the i(U'as and su<i-;>estion,s of the eoniniittee ; and the eonimittee, in 
tiieir turn. ha\e phiced full eontideiuv in the architects. By a concert 
of action, a building has been designed just such as we desired, — con- 
venicnit in its arrangements, not too ostentatious, not a jot too simple, 
l)ut in harmony with the tastes and republican idi-as of our citizens. 

'I'his l)uilding is to be used for various nmnicipal purposes, and for 
the acconmiodation of the Free Public Library, which, though now 
in its incipient state, is yet of sufficient magnitude to form a nucleus ^ 
around which I hope ere long to see gathered a collection of books 
that mav atfbrd a means of improvement to the young, and a source 
of pleasure and profit to us all in our declining years. And I take 
this opportunity of bespeaking for it the favorable consideration, not 
only of future municipal governments, but of those of our citizens Avho 
have the means to spare, that they may fill up the shelves and alcoves 
of the splendid room designed for it in the building whose corner stone 
we are now al)out to lay. 

Gentlemen, — It seems quite appropriate to the occasion, when the 
city for the first time is about to erect for itself a City Hall, to revert 
to the history of the only biiilding ever owned by it, and used for the 
meetings of the city government. The first notice I find in reference 
to a Town House was at a town meeting held in the JNIethodist meet- 
in'Miouse at Woodend, May 3, 1)S13,* Avhen the following vote was 
passed : — 

" Voted, That the Selectmen provide a place for to do the business 
of the next town meeting in, and at said meeting to let tlie town know 
what the prospect is oi' future meetings when- they can Ite called." 

At a subseqjient meeting, held Dec. 27, IXlo, it was voted to 
choose a committee of seven persons, for the purjjose of fixing on a 
suitable spot for the erection of a Town House on tlie town's land. 
And the Selectmen — Henry Hallowell, Nehemiah Silsbee and "Wil- 
liam Jackson, together with Zachariah Attwill. Joseph Fuller, 3d, 
Harris Chadwell and Amariah Childs — were chosen a building com- 
mittee, and clothed with power to contract with some carpenter or 
carpenters for building the house, on a plan sufficiently large to accom- 
modate the towu, the contract stipulating '' to have the building raised, 
boarded, shingled and clapboarded, and the windows in ; also such 



• There is a slight error here, either in the original document or the printed copy, 
and as it cannot now be known which, no alteration is made. But the meeting of May 
3d was certainly held in the First Metliodist Churcli, as has been stated on p. x. The 
one on the 27th of the next December was the one, and the only one, held at Woodend. 



LAYING THE COKNER STONE. 



39 



fixturi's insidi! as in their opinion will answer tor tlu' sprinji" nH'ctinjr. 
and that the person or persons who may contract to build tlu' sai<l 
house sliall aui'ee with said conunittee to lia\'e tlie same cnniplctcd as 
above, on or before the twentietli day of ^larch next, and tlie saiil 
conmiittee report their doinjrs at the next aiuuial March uu'etinjr."' 
It was also voted to direct the 'J'own Treasurer to ol)tain on loan a 
sum of money, not excet'<lin;r two thousand dollars, and at a rate of 
interest not exceedinj>- six per cent., for earryinjr tlie a])ove votes or 
business into effect. 

The warrant for the town meetinjj, dated March 12, 1H14, called 
on the legal voters to assemble on the 21st inst. at the ToAvn House. 
This was the first town meeting held in tlie building. 

On the 4th of April, LSI 4, at a town meeting held in the Town 
House, it was " voted to have a cellar under the Town House, and 
that the committee who were appointed to build said house contract 
Avith some person for said cellar." (This vote was i-econsidered at 
the May meeting following.) 

Voted, also, that ''the same committee l)uild a seat or seats in the 
chamber of said house as they shall think proper." 

At a meeting held May 2, 1814, it was voted that •• tlie Selectmen 
be directed to finish a room on the lower flower of the ToAvn House, 
for the Selectmen and Assessors to do business in." Also voted " to 
grant liberty to all the companies in t0A\ai on training days, to use the 
Tow^l House to exercise and do business in. during the pleasure of 
the town." 

There is an article in the warrant for the town meeting of Aug. 15, 
1814, of which the following is a copy : — 

" To see if the town will omit finishing a room in their Town 
House until another year, as materials for the same will come very 
high." 

And at the meeting it was voted to omit finishing the room. 

The following report Avas accej)ted by the toAvn, Nov. 7, 1814 : — 

To the Inhabitants of the Town of Lynn !n Town Meeting assembled : 

We, your committee, Avho Avere appointed on the 27th of Decem- 
ber last, for the purpose of fixing on a suitable spot on the toAvn's 
land for the erection of a ToAvn House, and also to contract Avith 
some carpenter or carpenters for building said house, do noAv report 
that Ave haAe contracted with Timothy Miuiroe to build said house. 
58 feet by 44 feet, and 24 feet posts. Avith a hij) roof. Avith 30 Avin- 



40 THE CITY HALL. 

(lows of 24 lijilits f)f !) by 12 glass, and to complete the outside of 
said house ; also to h\y one floor, and find all the materials, for the 

sum of " $1645.00 

Also since have contracted with the said Munroe to lay the 

other floor for 75.00 

Your committee have also contracted Avith David Galucia to 

underpin said house, to find the steps for cash down* for 280.00 
We have also contracted with James Pool to point the un- 
derpinning of said house for 10.44 

Likewise contracted with said Munroe for the seats, plat- 
form and stairs, for 66.25 

For Harris Chadwell's assistance 6.00 



Total $2082.69 

All which is done to the satisfaction of the committee, and now 
offer to the town i'or their acceptance. 

1Ikm;v IIam><)Well. 1 
Nkhioha]! Silsbee. 
.1 ON A . Ma kepe a( e , 

HaKKIS C'iIADWEEE, y ('iniuilif/t'i\ 

Zach. Attw^ill. 
Amakiaii C'hilds, 
.Joseph Fillek, 8i). j 

Thus you will perceive, geutlemen, that something more than one- 
half a centiii'v ago the then town of Lynn built a Town House, under 
circumstances that bear a striking analogy — in one respect at least 
— to the condition in which we find ourselves placed at the present 
time. The country was then at war with Great Bi'itaiu ; large out- 
lavs were made by the town for military purposes : for 1 find on 
record, under date oi' Aug. IT), 1S14. a \(>tc authorizing the payment 
of ten dollars ))er month to each olficei- and soldier, in addition to 
government pa v. wiiile thev were in the service of the Ignited States. 
It was also voted to allow ont' dollar per night to each man who had 
])ei-rorme(l the duty of night guai'd. These last two votes were at the 
same meeting that voted to reconsider the order Avhereby the Select- 
men w ere directed to finish a room for tlu-ir accommodation on the 

* Another small error. In tlie Town Record tlie words " for casli down " read very 
plainly " for cacti door," wliicli is more intelligible. Tlie name, also, is Daniel Galeucia, 
and not Diiviil. 



LAYING THE CORNER STONE. 



41 



lower flooT* of the Town House. They too said, "Our first duty is to 
the soldier, — to support liim and his family while he is fighting the 
battles of his country. We must first see whether Ave are to be a 
free people, or whether we are again to come under the dominion of 
a foreign power. We can aflford to wait, and hold our meetings in an 
unfinished house, till the greater question is settled." And they did 
wait, till they knew that England could not control them, could not 
destroy their nationality, and it was in the last years of the war that 
they ventured the outlay for building the outer walls only of the To^vn 
House. The country had been at war for several years, although a 
formal declaration was not made tiU 1812 ; yet the embargo that was 
laid in 1807 was more disastrous than actual open hostility. 

We, too, have commenced this new City Hall in the last year of 
our great struggle for freedom. The subject was agitated in 1863, 
and this lot purchased, added to in 1864, and an order passed in 1865 
directing the committee to place the building under contract. Your 
city governments of 1863 and '64 coixld hardly feel themselves justi- 
fied in making so large an expenditure as would be necessary to build 
a City Hall such as was demanded by our growing and thriving city, 
so long as such heavy demands were made upon us to support the 
government in its gigantic struggle to establish its rule over those 
misguided individuals who had revolted from wholesome laws and 
sought to destroy us as a nation. Although we never had a doubt as 
to the final result of the contest, yet Ave knew not hoAv large would be 
the demands upon oin- resources before the Avar could be brought to a 
successful close. Therefore Ave, too, concluded to AA^ait, and transact 
our business in A'ery limited apartments, rented for the purpose, till 
Ave, too, could see the end. 

The History of Lynn says that the old ToAvn House stood on the 
centre of the Common, nearly opposite the head of HanoA^er Street, 
where it remained till 1832, Avhen it was remoA^ed to the spot on Avhich 
it Avas burned, Oct. 6, 1864 ; since Avhich time Blossom Street has 
been laid out over the spot Avhere it once stood, — ■ the building of late 
years graced Avith the name of City Hall. After it Avas removed, the 
hall in the building was finished, and Avas for many years the largest 
and almost the only hall in toAxii for lectui'es, lyceums, and exhibi- 
tions of all kinds. Again, in 1850, on the formation of the city gov- 
ernment, it underwent extensive I'epairs and alterations ; but for the 
last fourteen years of its existence but sliglit changes Avere made in 
the building to Avliich we Avcre all so much attached by our early 
recollections of election days and May trainings. 
7 



42 THE CITY HALL< 

During the last ten years the city government have frequently 
agitated the subject of a new City Hall. They have generally been 
convinced that at no very distant day it would be a matter of necessity 
to provide more ample accommodations for the increasing business of 
the various departments. In the old Hall, much less in our present 
quarters, the various important committees (of which there are many) 
could with difficulty find room in which to deliberate upon important 
matters that were referred to them for their consideration and action. 

One of the distinctive features in this building is the fire-proof room 
for the preservation of the public records and archives of the city. 
Their destruction would l)e an irreparable loss, both to ourselves and 
our children. Better spend twice what the whole structure will cost 
than suffer them to be lost. 

A new era has commenced for Lynn. We have passed, and are 
still passing, through a transition state. Witness the introduction of 
steam power all over the city, the removal of buildings, which a feAV 
years ago were considered ample for their pui'poses, and the erection 
of more costly and extensive ones upon their sites ; new avenues are 
opened, and others in prospect ; old streets widened and extended ; 
and now a new City Hall is to be built, that would do credit to any 
city in the Union. The city, in its corporate capacity, must expect to 
be called upon to do more in the future than it has in times past, for 
improvements. An impetus has been given to trade and manufactures 
within the past few years unparalleled in our history. We have been 
driven along with wonderful rapidity towards the goal of affluence. 
The improvements in our individual interests must be met with cor- 
responding improvements by the city, in order to develop all the 
resources that our envied position as a manufacturing community has 
given us. 

I do not deem it expedient for me, gentlemen, on this occasion, to 
give a description of the building about to be erected. The designs, 
drawings and specifications can be seen and examined by any one at 
his leisure, and I trust that by another year we sliall see upon this 
spot the valuable building itself; and I only hope that it Avill be 
acceptable to you all, and that you will continue to prosper, and live 
to enjoy it for many years." 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION 



Saturday, Nov. 30, 1867, having been decided on as 
the day on which the new City Hall should be dedi- 
cated, was looked for with great interest by all classes 
of the citizens of Lynn. The evening before was mild, 
and a plentiful rain threatened to intrude upon the fes- 
tivities, but it cleared away rather abruptly during the 
night, and the morning broke clear and brilliant, with 
cooler temperature and sharp, invigorating air. 

Energetic preparations had been made, and the edifice 
was opened to the public at an early hour, in fine con- 
dition. In the basement some inconspicuous portions 
remained unfinished ; but all the upper part of the 
building was complete to the last touch. The whole 
was finely decorated. The national ensign w^aved from 
every side of the tower, and three other and larger 
copies of the " old flag" swung from the railing of the 
portico. A smaller one was also noticed in a prominent 
place, being that set on the summit of the tower by 
Master Arthur W., son of E. Quincy Bacheller, Esq., 
when the framework was first raised. The colors were 
also variously displayed in the interior, particularly in 
the rear of the landing in. the centre of the main stair- 
case. The apartments being all open, the people filled 
them at an early hour, and gratified themselves with a 
free examination of all the various beauties, accommo- 



46 THE CITY HALL. 

dations and conveniences. In the Staircase Hall, on 
the left or western side of the stairs, a raised platform 
was occnpied by the Tiynn Brass Band, of twenty-two 
members, led by Mr. Winslow Phinney ; and these made 
the building echo with excellent music while the citizens 
gathered in by hundreds. By the arrival of the hour 
appointed for the exercises, probably two or three thou- 
sand persons, of both sexes and of every age and con- 
dition, were densely thronged in the rooms and passages. 
It had been arranged for the speakers to occupy a posi- 
tion on the landing of the main staircase ; and accord- 
ingly every point that commanded a view of this spot 
was secured, and large numbers had to content them- 
selves with hearing, from positions whence they could 
not see. 

Particidar pains had been taken to secure the attend- 
ance of as many of the aged men of the city as possible. 
Such were accordingly present in considerable numbers, 
and their silvery hairs gave a peculiar, solemn beauty 
to the view, as the eager and well-pleased companies 
moved from room to room, or gathered in choice places 
in the Staircase Hall. Before the ceremonies began, 
these old men had been, so far as possible, provided 
with seats in the first or lower gallery, presenting, in a 
long row around the sides of the hall, a spectacle of 
rare satisfoction to all. In the latter part of this volume 
will be found a list, as perfect as can now be made, of 
those who thus, in spite of years, honored the occasion 
by their presence. 

Some time before the commencement of the ceremo- 
nies, the two Boards of the City Council had assembled, 
first in their separate rooms, and then in convention. 
From the Council Chamber they then proceeded to the 
main staircase, where His Honor, Roland G. Usher, 



CEREMONIES OF DEDI(^\TION. 47 

Mayor, took the chair, supported by Theodore Attwill. 
Esq., President of the Common Council, on the right, 
and by His Honor, Peter M. Xeal, Ex-Mayor, on the 
left. The Architects, Chaplain of the Day, and other 
functionaries, were present in their places. 

iVll things being arranged and quiet obtained, Mayor 
Usher said : — 

Felloio Citizens, — The City Government have met hei*e to-day for 
the purpose of dedicating this building to municipal purposes ; and 
may God help us to do so in an appropriate manner. The house will 
be in order. 



Alderman Thomas Stagey, Acting Chairman of the 
Committee, then addresse 
lows : — 



Building Committee, then addressed the chair as fol 



Mr. Mayor, — The Joint Special Committee, under whose care the 
work upon this building has been prosecuted during the present year, 
have authorized me to make a very brief report of their doings, and 
formally deliver to you possession of the same, for dedication at this 
time. 

The City Council of 1865 unanimously adopted the plans and 
drawings which represented this structure, and ordered the founda- 
tion walls to be laid, and the basement story to be built. November 
28th of that year the corner stone was laid. In January, 1866, the 
committee wei'e instructed, with the same unanimity, to contract for 
the erection of the skeleton of the building and exterior finish, in 
accordance with the plans and specifications. August 15th the first 
face brick was laid upon the walls. 

At the commencement of the present year a similar vote was 
passed, authorizing its fui-fher progress, and at the same time urging 
its completioji in season for the inauguration of the city government 
of 1868, and providing ample means to meet the necessary expendi- 
tures. And we may here mention, as a noteworthy fact, that every 
appropriation fn* this purpose has passed both branches of the City 
Council without a dissenting voice. 

Acting under these positive instructions, the committee have not 
only felt relieved of much responsibility, but have been greatly en- 



48 THE CITY HALL. 

couraged in tlieir effortf< to cany out the designs comi^lete,, and in 
the most thorough and substantial manner. They have therefore 
endeavored to secure tlie services of reliable and competent >con- 
tractors, and have authorized the use of the best nuiterial and most 
skilful workmansiiip that could be procured, and have urged forward 
the work with a view to its final completion at this time ; and although 
it is not yet fully completed, it is sulHciently so for occupancy, and 
only a few days moi"e will be required for its final accomplishment. 

The fencing of the lot has been fontracted for, and the work is 
progressing, but the lateness of the season will probably preclude its 
erection until spring. 

It is proposed, at an early day, to cause to be printed a report, in 
detail, of all contracts and expenses incurred, including the cost of 
land, grading, fencing, furnishing the building, &c. An enumeration 
of this kind at the present time woiild necessitate a more elaborate 
report, and occupy more time than would seem desirable on this 
occasion, and as our fellow-citizens will very soon have an opportu- 
nity to examine every item as critically as they may desire, we there- 
fore refrain from trespassing upon the time allotted for these exercises. 
We are pleased to say, however, that the total cost of the building 
will not exceed the several sums already appropriated, the aggregate 
amount of which is something less than three hundred thousand 
dollars. 

The committee are also gratified to state that they have been 
enabled satisfactorily to adjust all claims on account of contracts, or 
other work, which have thus far been presented, and that the contrac- 
tors have faithfully and honorably fulfilled their obligations. Also, 
that during the two and a half years since the conunencement of the 
work, no serious accident or casualty has occurred to mar the record 
or sadden the memory, or in any manner obstruct its progress. 

Mr. Mayor, — In behalf of the committee I uoav surrender to your 
charge the City Hall. You are its custodian by right of olRcial sta- 
tion. Here may perfect wisdom guide us all, and lead us to a higher 
sense of our obligations in the performance of all our duties. 

Mayor Usher responded : — 

Mr. Chairman., — In accepting from your hands this building, for 
and in behalf of the City of Lynn, I should be recreant to a part of 
my duty did I fail to return to you, and the committee you represent, 
the thanks of this conununity, and offer you their congratulations for 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATIO^^ 49 

the faithful manner in wliich you have discharged the duties assigned 
you. For more than two years Ave have watehed witli interest the 
progress of its construction, and to-day it is your privilege to transfer 
to this government a structure that is henceforth to be the pride of our 
citizens, creditable alike to any age or people. 

To the architects, whose genius conceived and elaborated the 
designs ; to the master builder, Avhose skill and workmanship is 
manifest from the foundation to the crowning of the dome ; to the 
mechanic, who has given beauty to its walls and finish to its ceiling ; 
to the various artizans, whose handiwork is here displayed ; to look 
about us is a more eloquent tribute to their skill than any words of 
mine. 

And, Mr. Chairman, having so Avell performed the duties assigned 
you, and so nearly completed this noble ediiice, I here and now offi- 
cially accept it fi-ora your hands ; and, before proceeding to the dedi- 
catory exercises, let us, gentlemen of the City Government and fellow 
citizens, join in prayer with the Rev. Mr. Bakxes. 

Rev. J. W. F. Barnes, pastor of the First M. E. Church, 

then offered the dedicatory prayer, as follows : — 

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we assemble in joyful con- 
course this morning, to render praise and homage to Thy great name 
for the blessings which Ave now enjoy. And we here thank Thee, O 
God, for the privilege of gathering together in this beautiful building, 
so near to its completion, that we are here to-day to dedicate to the 
service of the city, and Ave trust also to the principles of Thy truth. 
We thank Thee for the progress that has been made in the rearing 
of this beautiful fabric, and that by Thy good providence the crafts- 
men and artificers who have been at Avork so long upon it liaA'e met 
with no accident to mar the progress of their efforts. And noAV avc 
consecrate this beautiful temple to all the purposes for wliicli it is 
needed. We trust, O God, tluvt Thy blessing may fall upon it, sanc- 
tifying it to fhe present and future citizens of Lynn, and to tlie good 
of this Commonwealth as represented in this city. May Thy blessing 
also sanctify the industry and thrift Avhich have been so largely de- 
veloped in this city as to call for the erection of so spacious and 
beautiful an edifice. Lord Almiglity, be pleased to bless the interests 
that are represented in this building ; not only tlu> industrial prosperity 
of our beautiful city, but those Avho sluill be delegated by the peopk' 



50 THE CITY HALL. 

to make and adiniuister tlie laws. May Thy blessing be with them, 
ami may the tear ot" God abide with the government of the city, as 
vested in the Mayor, the Aldermen and the Common Councilmen. 
May it lead them to the best legislation and the most proper enact- 
ments for the good of the people. We pray thee, O Heavenly Father, 
that Thy blessing may rest npon the administrators of the law in this 
building, in the courts which may be here convened. We pray that 
the judges who may here administer law, as betAveen parties aggrieved, 
in the name of the Commonwealth, or between those who may have 
quarrelled, or against those Avho have offended against the laws of the 
city or commonwealth, may be preserved from injustice in their de- 
cisions. We pray that justice may abide with these tribunals, and 
that Thy spirit may be with the clerks and officers of the court, and 
with the marshal of the city, and all the officers under his charge, 
causing them to remember that "■except the Lord keep the city, the 
Avatchman Avaketh in A-ain." May Thy blessing be Avith the School 
Committee Avho may from time to time assemble here, and may they 
be endued Avith Avisdom, and that Ioac for the interests they represent, 
that they may giA'e such devotion to their duties as to help them to 
lift the children and youth, by a happy development of their mental 
facvdties, to that plane Avhich God designed them to occupy. May 
Thy blessing rest upon the attempt to establish here an adequate pub- 
lic library, for the good of all such as may be compelled to <lepend 
upon sTU'h means to perfect their education. May it be a central 
force to bless and educate those avIio, Avithout other opportunities, fall 
to this as a means of education. O Lord God, be Thou Avith the 
poor, as their prayer comes up here to the ears of those appointed to 
their care, and may it be ansAvered with such generosity as to relieve 
their Avauts and inspire their efforts to relicA^e themselves. May the 
cry of the prisoner who shall here be detained come up before Thee ; 
and if there should be any injustice in the proceedings against him, 
may his cry come up before Thee, that the justice of the Lord, as 
well as the sentence of the laAV, may be meted out to him. May 
the moral interests of this beloved city, and the right development 
and moral education of the masses, be conserved by the institutions 
of religion that are here set up. May Thy blessings fall upon the 
ministers and clergy, that they may be able to accomplish all that 
Tlum hast set them to do, and to teach l)y the light of Thy Holy 
Word and the instruction of Thy Holy Spirit. We pray that Thy 
blessing may rest upon the sister cities of this CommouAvealth. And 
now, O God, Ave commend unto Thee not oidy our Commonwealth, 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 51 

but our nation, and here avc implore Tliy blessing upon the govern- 
ment of tlie United Statc!^. May Thy servant, the President, be 
endowed with wisdom from above, that the true rights of the people 
may dominate in his soul, and may his perceptions be made clear by 
the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that he may perfectly love Thee 
and worthily magnify Thy Holy Name. JSIay Thy blessing be upon 
the members of Congi-ess, and may the vspirit of pure patriotism abide 
with them, and may a just sense of their responsibility to Thee, O 
God, qualify them for the onerous duties of that position, despite the 
influences of painty or sellish interests to the contrary. Grant that 
our country may become the happiest, because governed by the best 
laws, — the truest pi'osperity which can characterize a people. Bless 
all who are concerned here, and may every heart be lifted up in holy 
prayer. Thus we commend ourselves to Thee, Father, and may the 
hearts of the people be lifted up, as Thou hast taught them to pray 
and say — '' Our Father which art in heaven." Amen. 

Mayor Usher then delivered the followmg 

DEDICATORY ADDRESS. 

Gentlemen of the City Government and Felloio- Citizens, — In the 
year 1629, two Inxndred and thirty-eight years ago, Edmund and 
Francis Ingalls, John Wood, and a few others, seeking for them- 
selves and their families a dwelling place, fixed their habitation in 
Lynn, — not the city of to-day, with its fine thoroughfares, its vast 
manufacturing establishments, thirty-eight trains of cars daily, and 
tAventy-five thousand inhabitants, but an unbroken wilderness, Avhere 
the hand of civilization had never left its impress, and where civil- 
ized society had no existence ; with all the inconveniences, hardships 
and perils of such an habitation, they laid the foundation of this, 
our city. 

Looking back through the centuries that have passed, with their 
trials and struggles luifolded, we can but admire the constant purpose 
and heroic faith, the indomitable energy and fearless spirit that char- 
acterized the early settlers of Lynn. Destitute of those instrumen- 
talities and appliances so essential to such an undertaking ; striving 
among disheartening influences that would have crushed an irresolute 
will ; restricted to their oavu resources, and those most scanty ; their 
necessities developed that self-reliance and integrity of purpose so 
conspicuous in all their career, and so requisite to their success. 



52 THE CITY HALL. 

Civilization hus never floated on a quiet sea ; progress and ad- 
vancement are an ascending plane ; they are purchased at a price 
corresponding to their value. To extend the advantages of refined 
society and social life, some must clear the way, making smooth the 
rough and uneven places. To the men of the earlier times v^^as given 
the hardships of such an undertaking. 

To dare the rigors of a northern winter, the perils of famine, far 
from help or succor, surrounded by a treacherous, hostile race ; to 
undertake the peopling of a continent and the erection of an empire, 
required just such men as the New England Puritans, — positive in 
convictions, obstinate in purpose, inflexible in will, and fearless in 
execution. In the year 1630 freemen from this place were received 
by the General Court, which appears as the only act of incorporation 
of Avhich we can boast: the town at this time bearing the name of 
Saugus, which it retained luitil Nov. 30, 1637, when, by an act 
of the General Court, the same was changed to Lynn. The name of 
Lynn appears to have been selected in compliment to the Rev. Samuel 
Whiting, who came from old Lynn, England, the year previous, where 
he had acted as colleague to one of the rectors of the established 
Church. Difficulties having arisen on account of his nonconformity 
in administering the service of the Church, he came to America, fixing 
his residence in Lyim. Here, by the urbanity of his manners, fine 
abilities, and purity of life, he exercised a great influence among the 
people, and did much in moulding their character and purpose. 

From the second year of the settlement emigration appears to have 
turned in this direction, so that in 1632 quite an addition had been 
made to their number. For nine years from the first settlement the 
lands were held in common, for in 1638 we learn that the lands within 
the limits which embraced what is now known as L}ain, Lynnfield, 
Saugus, Swampscott and Nahant, were divided among the settlers, 
the same being apportioned by a committee appointed by the town for 
that purpose. 

Until 1814 Lynn embraced the territory contained in the above- 
named toAvns. This year Lynnfield was set ofl' and incorporated into 
a separate town, Saugus the year following, while Swampscott and 
Nahant remained until 1852 and 1853, when they likewise received 
acts of incorporation. Thus far the settlers had given their attention 
to agriculture, the lands apportioned being mostly devoted to tiUage. 
At this time (1638) there are said to have been one hundred families 
in Lynn. For a few years emigration continued, and then so far 
declined as to comparatively cease. Little of jealousy or difficulty 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 53 

appears to have existed between the colonists and the Indians that 
.surrounded them. Their position was one of comparative security 
until the Eastern Colonies were alarmed by the breaking out of King 
Philip's War, for the prosecution of which they furnished one com- 
pany. With the death of Philip closed the war and all fears of the 
Indians. 

At this j)eriod no title to the lands had been accpiired, the Indians 
suft'ering their occupancy. And not until IGHG was a deed of the 
land on which the town was built obtained. At this time a title to 
the same was received from the Indians, by the payment of sixteen 
pounds current silver. From this date Lyim appears in all the essen- 
tials of a. corporate town, with title to its lands, local officers, repre- 
sentation and taxation for general purposes, a ])rinciple for which, 
ninety years later, they made common cause Avith their brethren of 
the other colonies, and bore an honorable part in a contest that settled 
the relation of taxation to representation, establishing and maintaining 
a principle fundamental in our government. No people Avere ever 
more fully endowed A\'ith the essential characteristics, or imbued with 
the spirit necessary to build up a prosperous community, than were 
they. The accomplishment of every really great undertaking is the 
residt of morality and intelligence, combined with activity and perse- 
verance. That they fully possessed these qualities Avas apparent in 
their business, morality and religion. To the latter none have ever 
paid liiglier veneration, none more fully conformed to what they con- 
sidered its exactions, or so rigidly enforced the penalties for every 
infringement upon their prescribed methods of religious observance. 
Escaping themselves from the Old World to find freedom of thought 
and action in the New, their first effort was to restrict the right they 
claimed. Although smarting under the pain of intolerance, they saAV 
no protection without it, and built up an ecclesiastical system tiiat left 
no room for individual conviction. If their religious fervor possessed 
more of the elements of bigotiy than it did of the true spirit of Chris- 
tianity ; if by their statute law tliey sought to enforce upon men the 
observance of Christian rites, even from their nature tyrannical, with 
few rays of liberal Christian light, we must not forget that no little of 
this was the result of their condition in life, their hard experience, and 
the age in wliich they livi'd. If their acts detract i'nnn their consist- 
ency, and leave much to be condemned, we can but admire the great 
tenacity Avith which tliey adhered to their convictions. We can never 
forget tha.t it was tlu' rough virtues of such as these, combined Avith 
an a(l\ancing intelligence, that lias reared the thousands of prosperous 



54 THE CITY HALL. 

and liappy communities of which we form a jjiivt. "With them their 
religion was a living fact, and produced tangible results on society. 
So with education they early sought to close the door of ignorance, 
and as early as 1647 the General Court passed a law making the sup- 
port of schools compidsory, and education both universal and free. 
Every town of fifty families was l)ound to maintain a school, in which 
children sliould be taught to read and write, and every town of one 
hundred families was obliged to maintain a granmiar school, the 
master of which should be able to qualify the youth for the uni- 
versity. 

In conformity to this law Lynn established a school, and through 
the changes of two centuries the light of her schools has shone out, 
dispelling in its course the clouds of popular ignorance. Time has 
modified and overthrow^n many of the early statutes, but time and 
experience have only increased our respect and admiration tor this 
loyal requirement. They were Iniilding up a connmmity with com- 
mon interests, and recognized the necessity of intelligence to appre- 
hend those interests. Tliey knew that ignorance was the parent of 
crime ; that every man was a ruler, and should be fitted to exercise 
that power. Education with tliem was a keeper at the door of public 
morals : the lever lifting society to the plane of virtuous intelligence, 
which developed into activity, manifest in all the departments of 
business which their circumscribed facilities would permit, finally 
resulted in the great industrial pursuits which distinguish this com- 
munity. 

From a very early period in our history attention was directed to 
the manufacture of shoes. The fii-st shoemaker known here was 
Philip Kertland, who arrived at Lynn in 1()35, For one hundred 
years and upwards subsequent to his arrival this manufacturing 
branch of industry was both small in quantity and inferior in quality. 
Little practical knowledge of the business had been acquired previous 
to 1750, when John Adam Dagyr came to Lynn. Much of the 
information in the art had been gained by taking in pieces shoes of 
foreign make, to learn their construction. Dagyr was able to impart 
the requisite knowledge without such process. At tliis time three 
persons only Avere engaged in the business to such an extent as to 
employ journeymen. LTnder the guidance of Dagyr the manufacturers 
were soon able to produce goods equal in quality to the best foreign 
productions ; and from that period dates the permanent advancement 
of the staple business of Lymi ; — the laying of the foundation of a 
branch of industi-y that in our day furnishes employment to three- 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 



55 



tbuvths of our own populntioii, witli larjrc numbers beyond our own 
limits. From this simple beginning has grown n production of more 
than ten million pairs amuuiUy. Eighteen years after Dagyr arrived 
the productions reached eight thousand pairs. From 1795 to 1855 the 
increase each decade was more than one liundred per cent., while 
from 1855 to 1865 the same was nearly three hundred per cent. 
Such a result has been attained through the combined labors of an 
enterprising and industrious population ; (and let me say here, that in 
1810, with a population of only four thousand, the ladies earned fifty 
thousand dollars in biutling shoes.) The largest of the early estab- 
lishments appear diminuti\'e when contrasted with a single manufac- 
tory of the present day, that sends out half a million pairs annually. 

As we witness the magnitude of this department of our industrial 
labor, the vast capital involved, the thousands that directly or indi- 
rectly derive support thereby, our unassailable position in the markets 
of the world for this special branch of trade, and the business lines 
I'adiating from our city to almost every town and city on the conti- 
nent, let us not forget they are the summing up of one hundred 
years' experience, — the product of a century's laborious thought and 
patient toil. The seed so long ago planted has, by culture and care, 
grown to be the tree uruler whose branches twenty-five thousand peo- 
ple now find shelter. 

That the energy of the early settlers was not confined to one branch 
of manufacturing is evident, for as early as 1641 we find them estab- 
lishing an iron foundry, — the first on the continent. Two years later 
it went into successful operation, supplying the larger portions of the 
colonies. So valuable to the public was the furnace considered, that 
to its proprietors certain privileges were granted, such as immunities 
from taxation for a series of years, with other favorable considera- 
tions. 

In the year 1803 the Salem and Boston Turnpike was opened 
to public travel. No better means of progress is found than free 
communications. The highways of mankind are the links of social 
advancement and commercial prosperity. Ready commimication with 
the world beyond us enlarges our ideas and brings to our doors the 
advantages of human observation and experience. The more general 
this contact with men and things, the better (jualified we become for 
their association, and the better our understanding of their various 
relations. Easy communication and cheap travel are the essentials 
of such a condition. The one accrued to Lynn through the opening of 
the avenue referred to ; the other was accomplished thirty-five years 



5t) THE CITY HALL. 

later by the construction of the Eastern Railroad. Since this the city 
has advanced more rapidly in wealth and population. For the twenty- 
five years following the lirst settlement the increase in population 
averaged about thirty per annum ; from 1800 to 1825, one hundred : 
from 1825 to 1850, three hundred and sixty, and from 1850 to 1860 
the same was four hundred and eighty. 

While the increase in population has been constant and steady, the 
advancement in wealth has been no less so. The valuation from 1850 
to 1855 shows an advance for the five years of three and a half mil- 
lions ; from 1855 to 1860. one and a half millions : from 1860 to 
1867, six millions, or a gross increase in the seventeen years of eleven 
millions. This growth has been natural, therefore healthy. — the 
residt of no speculative schemes that bring fictitious value. ^^ hat- 
ever has been attained, either much or little, in this direction, has 
been of a permanent character. 

In the year 1850 the tovra government gave place to that of a city, 
by the adoption of a city charter. If the latter has possessed less of 
the democratic foi'm, and set aside the to^ATi meetings of former times, 
in which public questions were discussed, with the change of govern- 
ment passed away the evils incident to such gatherings. A municipal 
form of government combines more of system, and brings into activity, 
for the public welfare, a greater diversity of talent, and through the 
personal i-esponsibility of each member of the government, a lai'ger 
uiunber become interested in the public good. Questions of municipal 
legislation ai'e met from the standpoints of many minds, and are more 
fuUy apprehended in their various bearings and results. With this 
change in the order of government, corresponding changes incident 
thereto were demanded. With the individual, enlarged wealth and 
social position require enlarged expenditures. Thus small eomnmni- 
ties have moderate wants, paying similar compensation. Let them 
be endowed vnih entei-prise, energy and capital, and they spring to 
new life, to higher position, and more commanding influence. 

The plain wooden structure which, in former times, met the wants- 
of a to^\Ti government, was foimd insulficient for the same, in its 
advanced age. The Town Hall of 1814 was ample to meet the 
wants of that period. On its destruction by fire, temporary accom- 
modations were obtained. These proving inadequate, the building 
just vacated was removed to its present location, where, for the past 
sixteen months, the business of the city has been transacted. The 
first action taken by the City Council, which has resulted in the erec- 
tion of this structure, was had on Feb. 18, 1863. In .July following. 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 57 

ail appropriation of fifteen thousand dollars was made for the purchase 
of the site on which this building stands. Thirteen months later, 
Oct. 17, 1864, this sum was increased by another appropriation of 
seventy-four hundred dollars. Not until June 19, 1865 — upwards 
of two years from the time of the introduction of the first order — ■ 
were the committee instructed to put the basement under contract, 
when another appropriation of twenty thousand dollars was made for 
this purpose. The contract was made accordingly, and the corner- 
stone laid Nov. 28, 1865. On the advent of the city government of 
1866, Jan. 8, the committee appointed by the same were instructed 
to proceed with the construction of the building, on the same plans 
and specifications as adopted by the government of 1865. July 12. 
1866, one hundred thousand dollars was appropriated for this purpose. 
Jan. 29, 1867, an additional sum of one hundred and twenty thousand 
dollars was appropriated — twenty thousand of Avhich was to meet 
the notes given in 1865 for the appropriation on the basement. 
Aug. 5, 1867, fifty-seven thousand dollars more were appropriated 
to carry the building on to completion, making a total of two hundred 
and ninety-nine thousand four hundred dollars. 

Two years from the commencement of the enterprise — on this, 
the two hundred and thirty-eighth anniversary of the settlement of the 
place, and the two hundred and thirtieth of the adoption of the name 
of Lynn — we are here assembled to dedicate the building to munici- 
pal legislation. Here it stands, unlike any other in our community, 
dissimilar in the style of its architecture and adornments. But its 
peculiarities, its strong distinctive features, are not those seen with 
the eye, but the idea it symbolizes. It is a living voice, ever speaking 
of good order in society, pi-otection to the weak and security to the 
strong. It is a recognition of common duties and relations, and 
the uncounted blessings of good government. It is a monument 
of the thoughts, purposes and feelings of this people. No historic 
associations or inspiring memories cluster around it ; no traditional 
story of olden time, no legend of antiquity, clings to or forms part 
of its history ; yet it is a point in our history — a progressive point. 
It proclaims not only order and good government, but vigor, activity 
and capabilities. Quiet and steady as has been our material pros- 
perity has it arisen from its foundation, stone upon stone, through all 
the months of its construction. Here, in this building erected by the 
people and for the people, should the people's will be law. Conse- 
crated to popular government, majorities must rule, and the rulers of 
the people are but servants for the general good. In this buildino- 
9 ^ • 



58 THE CITY HALL. 

will centre, throuf^li i-epresentatives here assembled, the future hopes* 
of our city. To it eadi citizen may lay lawful claim, and can point 
with common pride, as a tangible illustration of liberality and taste. 
And if it shall strengthen the bonds that bind a single one more 
closely to Lynn, as his or her home, it will not have been reared 
in vain. 

While erecting a suitable place for public business, the expense of 
which is borne in connnon, let us not forget that Ave should in com- 
mon become the bearers of the burdens of municipal affairs. 

Dedicating this building, as we do to-day, let us dedicate it to good 
order and good government. Looking into the faces of the fathers 
who have honored us with their presence, thus linking tliis Avith 
former generations, we trust that when our children shall stand 
where we noAv stand, and occupy the places we uoav occupy, the 
blessings of wise government, and the favor of Divine Providence, 
may be as fully enjoyed by them, in years to come, as they have been 
by us in years past. 

This address was received with manifest favor by the 
assembly. Lively applause followed upon its conclu- 
sion, to which the band responded by an appropriate 
selection, — " Auld Lang Syne." 

The Mayor next introduced the Poet of the ]3ay, 
Cyrus M. Tracy, Esq., who proceeded to recite the 
subjoined 

POEM. 

In former days — as the old stories run — 
Where the dates ripen in the orient sun — 
A potent king once built a palace grand, 
Whose splendor dazzled the surrounding land. 
Princes and lords assembled at his call. 
And dedicated it with festival, 
And song and sacrifice ; and made the air 
To echo with rejoicings, then and there. 

But as these princes cast their eyes around. 
A man of somewhat lesser rank they found. 
Placed o'er the slaves that drew and poured the wiii^. 
Bidding its blush through crystal llagons shine. 
And ordering every vintage as he might incline. 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 59 

Displeased, thej'^ sought the kiufj-. •• This gives us shame! 

Why is this mau. so little nursed of fame, 

Set to a work thy Withers gave alone 

into the noblest hands before the throne?" 

• 

•• Peace I "' cried the king : •' In this ye speak but ill : 
This day, of glory I will have my fill ! 
Of this man's rank, or worth, say not a word ! 
Another time, your charges may be heard. 
If I have built these shining towers and domes. 
And filled with joy these incense-clouded rooms, 
And only made one error in the way 
I place my servants on this festive day, 
The blame be mine I To you it shall be known, 
I can afford it ! liet the feast go on I '" 

Thus, worthy seniors, citizens of Lynn. 
I find myself, these noble halls within. 
Called, by the bidding of your lord and mine, 
To stand and draw this day's poetic wine, 
I do it — well or ill — but hear my prayer. 
If I "m not worthy — charge it to the Mayor I 

I well anticipate the thought of those 
Who look to where some greener laurel grows ; 
And wish, instead, that Whittier were here. 
The gently fiei'ce, the genially severe ; 
Or else the Poet sweet, by Casco bred. 
Who honors Harvard with his heart and head ; 
One cheating us to think, by magic speech. 
Our City Hall a Tent upon the Beach ; 
The other painting some delightful scene. 
With Pitcher's wife for his Evangeline; 
Or singing the sweet measures of a lay, 
To make a Hiawatha of Old Gray.* 
Perhaps the '' Autocrat." whose two-fold skill 
Prescribes in verse and mottoes every pill. 
Might comfort give to those who feel the wound 
Pierced by the arrow of the Sinking Fund; 
For he might teach that more endurance lay 
In these our walls, than in his '' one-horse shay:" 
And long before decay had touched a stone, 
That wound should heal, and never hurt the bone. 



* George Gray, the Hermit of Lynn, and one of her most mysterious characters, died 
Feb. 28, 1848, aged 78 years. His origin and liistory were never known. Mary, or " Moll,'' 
wife of Robert Pitcher, figures in all our annals as the well-known " Fortune-teller of 
Lynn." She died AprU 9, 1813, aged 75. 



t)() THE CITY HALL. 

Again, there may be some, whose high respect 

And admiration of our architect 

Grow warmer, till they cry, " Full honor show him I 

Since Bryant drew the plans, let Bryant write the Poem I " 

• 

Patience, good friends ; all camiot have their way ; 
The duty and the joy are mine to-day. 
To put my voice for yours, and speak the words 
Of gratulation that each heart records. 
Xot for ourselves alone the echoing horn 
Pours forth its music to the listening morn ; 
Not for ourselves alone these pennons wave, 
Tinged with heaven's blue, pure white, and blood of brave. 
Our very hearts, that beat so warm within, 
Are pulsing now for many hearts of kin. 
And distant ears that list the greetings of old Lynn. 



Hail to thee, ancient matron Coaimonw^ealth ! 
God send thee blessings, and enduring health I 
Lynn would salute thee in her hour of pride. 
And plants her seat to strengthen thee, beside. 
Oh, Mother, there are tears upon thy cheek I 
Thy lips sob, faltering, what they cannot speak, 
For many a son of thine that silent lies 
By freedom's altar-side, thy sacrifice, — 
For him, thine Andrew, gone forever now,* 
A gem from out the circlet round thy brow ; 
Gone like a father to that unknown land. 
Perchance to still watch o'er that hero-band, 
To whom his word was strength, to nerve the flagging hand. 
Oh Mother, dry thy tears, and bind thy zone I 
Thy daughter-cities leave thee not alone ; 
Stars set ; but other stars do ever rise ; 
And thou shalt make perpetual strength thy prize, 
If on the Heavenly. Light thou keep thy faithful eyes I 

Hail to thee, Grandame Essex! Who shall not 
Blush red with shame, if thou shouldst be foi-got? 
We give thee good remembiance. Thine old head 
Wears yet the wreath of roses, fresh and red, 



* It is needless, except as a further incentive to think upon a noble character, to say that 
John A. Andrew, ex-Governor of Massachusetts, and Iut illustrious head in the terrible 
struggle of the Rebellion, died Oct. 30, 1867, in the enjoyment of greater love, perhaps, 
than the people of the State ever accorded to another departed citizen. 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 61 

With maiden lightness. Wlio like thee pretends 
To sit and show her children to her friends, 
In three great decades of well-prospered towns, 
And cities four, like hives without the drones? 
All honor to thee. Lynn is still thine own. 
Here, at Thanksgiving, by the old hearth-stone, 
She brings her pumpkin-pies and love to thee, 
And links her luck with thy prosperity. 
What genial faces here around thy board 
Return our joy, and smile for smile afford ! 
Our sister cities come from far and near, 
With town and village, bringing right good cheer. 
'Tis ours this time the honors here to do ; 
Carve turkey, turn the tea, and do the talking too. 

Good health to thee, O Salem I By our side. 
As the first, so dost thou still abide. 
Only three years between thy birth and ours ; 
How many since, with all their snows and flowers ! 
Say we, that centuries have not hurt us yet. 
But that our face as firmly we can set 
Against the wrong, and for the eternal right 
Make as strong pleadings and as stalwart fight. 
As in the days when Old North Bridge was won. 
And when we sent our boys to Lexington. 
Heaven keep thee, sister ! Many a noble name 
Hast thou been privileged to give to fame. 
We 've seen thy Bovv^ditch teach ten thousand tars ; 
We helped thee bury Lander and his scars ; * 
We knew thy Pickering — so did Washington ; 
Thy Hawthorne and the wondrous thread he spun. 
What if thy toils and thoughts have been afar. 
Gathering thy wealth beneath the morning star. 
While we have cast the net, and tilled the field. 
And traced our scutcheon on our leathern shield ? 
Still as our mutual territories join, 
In patriot feeling may our hearts combine ; 
And neither stint the kind, assisting hand. 
When fire, or pestilence, or lawless band 
Invades her sister. The Lord watch o'er thee 
As over us, till cities cease to be ! 

Pair Newburyport, heroic child of pain, 
We heartily salute thee! As the train 



* Brig.-Gen. Frederic W. Lander, a native of Salem, but resident in Lynn, died ol 
wounds received at the battle of Edward's Ferry, Va., and was buried in presence of the 
authorities of the two cities, on the 8th of March, 18C2. 



62 THE CITY HALL. 



Ti'acks the swift line toward our Hi^^li Rock, and back 

To where the Atlantic clasps his Merriniac. 

So the warm pulses of fraternity 

Go niidulatiiiii' between us and thee. 

We "ve seen the bruises on thy skilful hands ; 

We "ve seen thj' robes all smutched with midnight brands ; 

And rotting spars along- thj' river sands. 

Yet have we seen thee, with clear shining eye. 

Choke back the struggling grief and rising sigh. 

Plant thy foot firmly on thy lovely shore, 

And challenge fortune to the test once more I 

Brave, dauntless sister ! Heaven shall succor those 

That help themselves, whatever tempest blows. 

Rise, bind the curls beneath thy mural crown. 

Build the fair city on the mined town. 

And bid the sawyer's sweep and caulker's stroke 

Beat time while spindles hum and engines croak. 

Till Essex in her length and breadth grows bright. 

In the new radiance of thy northern light! 

Whose better claim to honor can we bring ; 

Instructed by the dulcet voice of King. 

By Parsons, Justice's prime minister. 

By Perkins. Nature's cross-examiner. 

Nurse of the sparkling Gould and Cushin<t stern. 

And guardian of good Whitefield's sacred urn? 

Here, in the gladness of our festal daj'. 

By the worn beaches of this ancient bay. 

We give thee our light hand and benison. 

And bid thee God-speed as the years roll on. 

And thou, the youngest of the crowned four — 
Lawrence — Lynn greets thee from her heart's best store I 
Though far awa}^ thy distant vale retires. 
Nor once our hill-tops catch thy shining spires. 
Yet we can hear thee, as thy vigorous tread 
Echoes across the slopes with verdure spread. 
And we have known the story of thy birth. 
Thou miracle 'mong cities of the north I 
Born of fnll stature, armed and helmeted. 
Like strong Minerva, sprung from Jove's own head. 
Wondering, we saw thee seize, with powerful hands. 
The serpent river rmnd his scaly strands. 
Close gripping him, till his reluctant coil 
Was forced to turn and serve thy curious toil : 
And thus with broidered mantle sittest thou. 
While Nature's hands with wealth thy lap endow. 
Princess of ruddy cheek ! And yet thy heart 
Is tender, and the ready tear can start 



CEREMOMIES OF DEDICATION. 63 

At suftering; even yet the sluidclers run 
Across tlij' bosom at the thouglit of Pemberton. 
Sister, thj^ record in that aA\ful liour 
Is worth far more to thee tlian all the dower 
Of webbed and woven wealth that thou hast gained, 
For this is dross, but that was mercy unrestrained. 
Gather thy Saunders with thy gentlest arm 1 * 
Give him thy gratitude, forever warm ; 
And with him gather all those blessed ones. 
Whom neither eves nor slowly-rising suns 
Saw 11 inching from the ghastly strife, to claim 
From crushing ruin and the rampant flame, 
• The mangled form of poor Humanity, 
And lay its bleeding head on thy supporting kneel 
In this, our proud dav, while the cornet's note 
Toward thee we send, o'er northern hills to float. 
We mingle one soft thought of things like these. 
To purify and calm our revelries. 
Blessings attend thee 1 and may Heaven allow 
Us. when misfortune comes, to meet as kind as thou I 

And yet. good people of our ancient Lynn, 
Others are here, our very kith and kin. 
Bear witness, worthy elders : children four 
Have outward gone from our paternal door. 
Should we not take them by the hand to-day once more? 

Lynnfieli). our first born I when we sent thee forth. 
And gave thee the old field upon the north. 
It was a troubled hour ; and sounds of war 
Came from the sea, while cities blazed afar.t 
But now it is a better day. and we 
Are glad in health to meet again with thee. 
Thou ever wert a steadj^-minded lad. 
Loving the furrow and the milking-shed ; 
And if thou art not rich, thou hast not lost. 
But ever made the golden mean thy trust. 
Thine is the birthriglit. Thou shalt have three shares. 
When the old chest is opened for our heirs. J 

* Those who live at a distance from the city of Lawrence must ever see in Hon. Daniel 
SAUNDERS, Jr., Mayor at the time of the disaster at the Pemherton Mill, the bright ex- 
ponent of that spirit of self-sacrilicing exertion, by which the whole people of that city 
distinguished themselves, in aid of the unfortunate sufferers. 

t Lynnfield was incorporated Feb. 28, 1814, during the last war with England ; Saugus, 
on the 17th of Feb., 1S15, the same day on which Congress ratified the treaty of Ghent, 
Swampscott was incorporated May 21, 1S52; and Nahant, March ->'.), in the next year. 

t Our old chest is a most curious and choice receptacle. It contains kind recollections, 
,i;ood wishes, fraternities, possible favors, and all the advantages that may and ought to 
(low between town and town. When Ihe time comes for unveiling tliese accumulations, 
tlie good heart of Lynn toward those of her own blood will be discovered. 



64 THE CITY HALL. 



8AUGUS 1 wlien times more peaceable became. 
We gave thee the west lot, our old town name. 
And our best blessing; thou hast done right well. 
Though loving less to dig than buy and sell. 
We love to have thee near us : we can hear 
Thy bells at evening, when the air is clear. 
And it brings baclv the dear old quiet days. 
And Parson Roby's words of prayer and praise* 
Thou hast been true, and kept the faith of old, 
And lovest freedom better than thy gold. 
Three shares belong to thee in the old chest : 
If thou dost need them not, then give them to the rest. 

SWAMPSCOTT ! 't was more than thirty years before 
Thou, come to age, didst ask to have the shore. 
And the four beaches ; so all these. we gave. 
And bade thee go, and labor and be brave. 
Bold and outspoken, in thy storm-proof rig. 
And never caring for the rain-cloud big, 
We never doubted there was luck for thee, 
Nor that thy lines would draw it from the sea : 
And now in all thy gains we too have joy. 
Like any parent that loves well his bo}^ 
In the old chest there are two shares for thee ; 
Some time the}' yet may add to thy prosperity. 

Another still is here — the pet Nahant : 
Our only daughter ; whom we never meant 
Should leave us; but her brothers went away. 
And then no argument could make her stay. 
A wayward chick she ever was, indeed ; 
Still running wild to play in the sea-weed. 
Or angling nippers from the beetling rocks, 
With gay winds lifting all her golden locks. 
And so we let the merry teaser go. 
For 't was not in our heart to say her no ; 
Gave her the rocks and beach she loved so well. 
And bade her with her friends in comfort dwell. 
Together fry their fish, and scoop the dainty shell. 
There 's two shares left to go to her, no doubt. 
And that will clean the old chest nearlv out. 



Good people all. why are you here to-day? 
It cannot be to hear the trumpets play. 



* Rev, Joseph Roby, pastor of the Congregational Church in Saugus,died Jan. 31, 1703, 
aged 79 years. He preached fifty-one years. He was an excellent scholar, a pious and 
venerable man, and liighly esteemed for his social virtues. [History of Lynn. 



CEREMONIES OF DEDI(;ATION. 65 



Because, if you Imd staid at liome, before 

A oreat wliile. tliey would i)ass your very door. 

Of course you come to see tlie City Hall: 

Tlie brown-stone portico ; tlie steeple tall : 

To t^'uess how liisfh the vane is from the ground; 

And estimate the iron work per pound. 

The grade and frontage you have come to see. 

And the French roof, "tis such a i-arity ; 

Study the columns in the vestibule. 

And if they cast them hot, and let them cool -, 

To see the skylight, whence the rays, like snow. 

Sift on the tesselated floor below ; 

Go up and see the clock, and count the stairs; 

And note the furnaces and such aifairs. 

Some come admiring : some with reverence ; 

Some sneering, crying. -'What extravagance I " 

And some to find, by hunting round the spot. 

Whether that '• No Admittance " did mean anything or not.* 

But think not, friends, that I to-day appear 
To lecture on the beauties that are here ; 
Nor on the practical advantages 
Of rooms, and stairs, and galleries like these. 
Others do that : for me, I choose to hit 
Some thoughts that they might happen to omit; 
And in advance, prepare your waiting mind 
For things that time is going to unwind. 
Beauties are here; but many a defect; 
And not to speak of these were gross neglect. 

Good judges, not a few. have thought it queer 
That there's no public hall hid somewhere here. 
In all this mass of brick, and stone, and lime: 
Where any man might come, at any time. 
For any purpose, and in any way. 
Through any period keeping up his stay. 
A place for Liberty's peculiar use; 
Sacred to peanuts ; consecrate with juice 
Of cavendish; with furniture well planned 
To serve each freeman's trusty blade and hand : 
(A freeman's blade 's his jack-knife, understand) : 
A public hall ; wiiose fioor the applauding jar 
As well could stand, as sidewalk laid in tar: 
And whose fair plaster should be tablet fit 
For oft-hand sketching and plumbago wit. 

* Prohibitory signboards proved not quite sufficient to repress the curiosity of citizens, 
during the progress of the building; and the number of spectator.« seemed enough, at 
times, to vex less good-natured workmen. 

10 



66 THE CITY HALL. 



Why do we seek for such a hall in vain, 
With its approaches, where, like eastern train, 
The rushinof crowd's free course should intimate 
To those that sit here in their petty state, 
That the great people were their masters yet. 
And bound that they no secret power should get? 

'T is of no use, raj' friends ; there 's no such room, 

Nor can there be. Now, don't mistake, and come. 

Thinking to hear the banjo's silvery sound. 

And see the Artist-Ethiops gathered round. 

Warbling soft airs, in Congo once renowned. 

Praj^ you, don't come here looking for the play — 

Jack Sheppard. or the Jibbenaiuosay ; 

Nor risk j^our bones to climb tliese windows high, 

In hopes to see some ballet-dancer fly. 

You cannot here enjoy the charm that flits 

Around Macallister, or Signor Blitz, 

Nor run the smallest chance, inside this door. 

To draw that •' chamber set, worth forty dollars," sure.* 

No, people of this place, to whose good sense 
A City Hall without the citizens 
Is an anomaly, and worse than that, 
In very terms a contradiction flat. 
Indulge your hopeless grief; and only say, 
*■' Had it been otherwise, how many a ray 
Of native eloquence had sparkled there. 
Like an aurora on the arctic air I 
How well again the battles had been given,t 
First waged in 'sixty, or in 'fifty-seven I 
How firm the arch, how short its easy span. 
For any energetic, careful man. 
From that free platform to the Mayor's seat. 
The Clerk's fat fees, the Treasurer's golden wheat! 
But Fate's decree is what we must abide, 
And see our City Hall and all its pride 
Devoted to the chartered purposes 
And lawful uses of these men of ease. 
Now to your tents. O Israel, for this day 
Moses and Aaron have it all their way ! " 

* It is not well ascertained whether more than one set of furniture has for some years 
past done duty among the prizes at the gift-shows at Lyceum Hall, or whether they are all 
one and the same, with some little change or restoration in the painting. The uniform 
value announced tends to help the latter suspicion. 

t None hut the " oldest inhabitant " can remember more stirring exhibitions of popular 
eloquence than graced the public gatherings in Lynn during the " hard times " of '57 and 
the " strike " of '60. 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 67 

But we must notice other things, I fear. 
That help prevent this stream from running clear. 
No billiard-room have I discovered yet. 
None, certainly, with any tables set. 
Where Councilmen, by long discussion tired. 
Might, by a string or two, be reinspired. 
I ask, when brains too weary are to think. 
And hands revolt from gluten and from ink, 
What place for such, where they, a little while. 
May have gymnastics in a quiet style. 
And newly brace the system to the rub. 
By tossing bean-bags, and the Indian club? 
What constant wonder has it made for me. 
To seek, and seek, and find no room for " tea " ! 
How shall the prophecies be held as true. 
Respecting what our Aldermen would do. 
If ever we allowed them chance to shirk. 
And mix high living with the public work? 
" A class of men," the prophets said, " whose sin 
Is great in Gotham, and will be as great in Lynn.'" 

Perhaps I am too fast. For down below 
Is an arrangement that, for aught I know, 
May be this same, which, with concealed intent. 
They 've changed, to have it a la restaurant. 
Some half a score of stalls, with lock and key,* 
Where any Alderman may take his tea, 
With sugar or without, as quiet as can be. 

W^ithin, all this is patent. The design 
That governs things exterior seems fine. 
But is not finished. When it is, I fear 
'T will show as many blunders as are here. 
How strange that men of sense should grade this lawn, 
Which these broad casements all look forth upon. 
And education bear so little sway 
With them, that there 's no place to play croquet ! 
What hardened hearts men have, thus to overlook 
The claims of innocence, cramped o'er slate and book I 
Prepare huge marriage records, grave and dry. 
But no provision for a sport whereby 
To train the heart and wake the youthful sigh ! 

The worst comes yet. In all the people's name 
I stand here to denounce the crj'ing shame, 

* Reference to the Architect's plan renders it probable that these " stalls " were intended 
for the confinement of offenders ; but their substantial and comfortable character may well 
justify the idea suggested. 



08 THE CITY HALL. 



That we have built this costly City Hall, 

And have no place about it for base ball I 

That " splendid game," by danger and by scar 

Proved to be only next to glorious war ; 

In whose defence such brave ones spend their breathy 

Break thumbs and fingers, and spit forth their teeth ; 

Forego warm meals, and eat, with haste intense, 

A few hard crackers, by the Common fence ; 

Deprive themselves of friends and light of home. 

Ambushing depots till the '-others" come; 

And freely yield their substance, great or small, 

To vindicate the glory of base ball ! 

Here have we been for three years, less or more. 

Piling this structure ; till there is a door 

For everything, around this vestibule — 

Poor, Fire, Clerk, Mayor, Taxes. Treasurer, School — 

And yet it seems that not a thought is spent 

Upon this most important element, 

Which any stranger, passing through the street, 

In days of rain or days of dusty heat. 

Might see, far more engaged the public heai-t 

Than the New Depot, or the Harbor Chart ! 

Do justice, then, ye men of Lynn, and give 
Meet recognition now to those that live, 
Survivors of the summer's hard campaign ; 
Nor leave them of the city to complain. 
Appreciate them. Their splendid game evolves 
Fine talents, and most curious questions solves. 
Their cultured skill, like that of bats and owls. 
Is seen in catching ■■ flies " and catching " fouls ; '" 
'T is nothing for ihem to make wholly clear. 
Which of the '• pitchers " has the greater ear; 
And some have deeply probed that question fine, 
•Which were the Muses — first, or second nine?" 
Give them a room and let them hang it round 
With trophies from each hard-contested ground ; 
With rosewood bats, and starry silken flags. 
Gauntlets, and gaiters, and base-cushion bags. 
And silver balls (the only missiles which 
Our grandames thought could ever kill a witch) ; 
And let their score-books there be well displayed. 
Beside the government-members' record laid, 
To show the "ins'' and "outs" and "runs" that each have made. 
Let us be wise in time, and statesmanlike. 
There 's good chance yet — we 've only had " one strike I " * 



* The wortliy votaries of the " national game " are requested not to suppose that any 
connection is intended between their fraternity and the " strike " of '60, or indeed with 



CEREMONIES OP^ DEDICATION. 

T note these thing-s with little hope that we 
Shall ever meet them with fit remedy. 
I merely do my duty; and confess 
"T is well the share of good is not still less. 
The Hall is built, and very well and strong ; 
Doubtless to stand through years and ages long ; 
Founded with care and reared with workmanship 
Unrivalled, winning praise from every lip. 
So far we ■ ve gone to have the work endure, 
That, as the ancients made their temples sure 
With sacrificial gifts of costly things, 
1\) please the gods and clip Destruction's wings. 
So we have brought a rich burnt-offering too ; 
As much for our own Pantheon to do. 
Those stately elms, that westward viewed the Park, 
And watched, down Market Street, the coaster's bark, 
We 've laid upon the altar ; and have cried, 
And begged Apollo to be pacified, 
And Mammon to be pleased ; for he demands 
Such offerings frequently, along our lands. 
And he is far too strong a god for us. 
That we should not propitiate him thus. 

Then have no fear, O Lynn, that storms will blow 
Too fiercely, and thy temple overthrow ; 
Nor think at all of conflagration dire. 
So turned aside with offering made by fire ; 
Nor in the nightly silence be afraid 
Of Uncle Leguee's angry, threatening shade: * 
Xo shade of his remains ! The latest bough 
Is burnt and gone to Emery's long ere now ! 
Rest well, O Lynn ! thy nerves no tremor shocks ; 
The elms are down, and sliced for •' dinking blocks! " 



69 



Pass, pleasantries ! The laugh and joke are well. 
To turn the edge of care and break the spell 
Of anxious thought; and yet. along our way. 
With memory oft, we. fondly lingering, stay. 
This building nmst not with its things of joy 
Enchant us. and all other sense destroy ! 



any enterprise of doubtful utility or expediency. The allusions of the poem will, no doubt, 
be met by them in the same kind spirit with which they have always encountered every- 
thing belonging to their duty. 

* John Lkgree Johnson, Esq., for many years the excellent Treasurer of the Town 
of Lynu, owned and resided on the spot now occupied by the City Hall. He died in 1«>29. 
The fears expressed by some when his two elms were cut down, that " Uncle Legree would 
appear to them," have not, it is supposed, been realized. 



70 THE CITY HALL. 

Nor must we, with unworthy disrespect, 

Pass by, in heedlessness and cold neglect, 

That humbler building that our fathers framed. 

The Old Town Hall, by them so well esteemed. 

Be this the cataract, where the public voice 

Through wealth and influence speaks with mighty noise. 

Like rushing torrent ; and the strength of Wrong 

Is broken, and his ruin spreads along ! 

But that shall be the unpretending bpring. 

Where little children did their pitchers bring, 

And youths and men with wholesome thirst drew nigh. 

And drank the rill unstained, of Yankee Liberty I 

Oh, 5'e to-day that boast, and boasting, tell 

How Lynn with glory in these halls shall dwell. 

Think of the days when moral greatness shone 

As brightly, in that plain old place unknown. 

Where men of little wealth, and men of none. 

Confronted all the duties of the hour. 

And hushed their need, that Right might rule with power ! 

Well shall it be, if every future year 

Shall from these gorgeous chambers always hear 

As faithful words, instinct with patriot pride. 

As echoed from that *' calf-pen " we deride ! 

Good men and true, whose early days were cast 
In Lynn, — who do not quite despise the past, — 
Return with me a moment in your thought. 
And see that Old Town Hall, that was. and now is not. 
See the calm Quakers come from Pudding Hill, 
And whalemen, it may be, from Chase's Mill, 
Men from old Boston Street, with waxy hands, 
Gravesenders, leaving boys to till their lands. 
From Saugus Bridge and the Old Sluice are some. 
And Swampscott fishermen with fife and drum ! 
See eager voters press around the " pen ! '' 
See the grave faces of the Selectmen ! 
The candy-boys that drive their trade apace, 
The constable that plies the heavy mace. 
The vote-distributors that hedge the door. 
The Moderator, type of transient power. 
And fledgling statesmen, confident and bright. 
Stretching their necks behind, to see the count is right I 
How many words ou little matters spent ! 
What frequent jest I What pointed argument ! 
What tactics keen ! What chilly open doors ! 
What honest triumphs, and what dirty floors ! 

Shift once the scene. The small town lyceum 
Is crowded, though the air is cold and numb. 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 

The keeper at the door has double care, 

Makes change and keeps the boys in order there. 

Augustus looks extremely gratified, 

And winks to Sarah, on the other side, 

To see Priscilla, ^vith her utmost charm, 

Brought up the aisle on Hezekiah's arm, 

In blissful ignorance that her dress may prove 

Severel_v scorched in passing the box stove. 

Good dames in specs, and men whose dickeys rise 

Like Alps on Alps, invading ears and eyes, 

Sit listening to the speaker of renown, 

(The worthy parson of the adjoining town). 

And all go home when lyceum is done, 

( 'onvinced no other place has half so good a one. 

The stereoscope I turn, and turn again. 
And bring fresh pictures in a wondrous train. 
The singing-school. The master beating time, 
With glowing face and passion quite sublime ; 
And men and maidens, in harmonic fraj% 
Doing fierce battle with the orchestra ; 
While "neath the clarionet and rude bassoon 
Full many a strongly-sinewed, ancient tune 
Comes to the torture ; till a startling pause 
Brings down the master with his code of laws, 
Expounding — wondering that they cannot see 
What makes B flat be different from B ! 

A dozen other scenes. A laughing gas 
Professor ; and an artist spinning glass ; 
A caucus ; then a show of grapes and pears ; 
A shrewd phrenologist; and little fairs. 
With tea above, and " Johnny Brown" down stairs. 
I know not what. The painting fades away 
In indistinctness, till a sudden ray 
Leaps out in lurid light across the gloom. 
And hot llames quiver like the darts of doom 1 
The timbers crash ! — the windows " kling " and fly ! 
The old To^^^^ Hall sinks and is gone ! The sky 
Frowns angrily, for up to Heaven high 
F>om the red cinders goes a victim's rending cry ! * 



71 



Old Lynn has gone! Ye worthy men, whose hair 
Stern Time has whitened with the snows of care, 

* " The old City Hall was destroyed by fire in October last, which would not have been 
a matter of much serious consequence, had it not been for the melancholy affair connected 
with it, — the death of Mr. Joseph Bond, who perished in the flames." [Mayor Neal's In- 
augural, Jan. 2, 1865. 



72 THE CITY HALL. 



Ye knew a Lynn that loved the ways of peace; 
That kept her flocks and tended their increase : 
That followed still her unobtrusive way. 
And looked not forward to this joyous day. 
Ye knew a time when all the fanner craved 
Was. that his hay and corn wore timely saved. 
That all his family in health were found. 
And all his cattle equally were sound. 
When, as the craftsman plied his gentle art. 
And stitched and hammered in his shop apart. 
He heard the humming- of the matron's wheel 
Blend with the bee's, and o'er his senses steal. 
When logs of generous magnitude gave forth 
A glow that gladdened all the social hearth. 
While from the faithful crane the kettle swung. 
And apples roasted while the goodwife sung. 
Then could the j'eonian call around his board 
A family that kept their father's word. 
Of daughters hale, and sons of brawny mould. 
Laughing at toil, and careless of the cold. 
Ye knew when people built them houses good. 
That kept their places, as they meant they should. 
When children first to bed, and early, went. 
Had razors seen, and knew what bonnets meant. 

Once more I say, that Lynn is gone and past; 
In smoke-wreaths gone with the old Hall at last. 
The Lynn we now know but a little way 
Resembles that which bloomed in early day. 
See the huge buildings of the present hour. 
Piled up with bricks as high as Babel's Tower 1 
Hear the machines, loud buzzing like a hive 
Of mammoth bees, and every one alive! 
Mark the tall chimneys i-ising ovei- the scene. 
And fast expresses, rushing through between ! 
The steam-car thunders o'er its quivering road. 
The horse-car staggers with its human load. 
And only stops when comes across its range 
A meeting-house, bound oft' on an exchange I * 
The people move their lands and tenements 
As readily as Arabs fold their tents : 
Laugh, and fill up each old and deep-dug well. 
Then hammer down their pipes, and up the waters swell. 



* Our friends abroad must not suppose this an e.xaggeration, as cases of its actual occur- 
rence may be cited. The exchange, indeed, miglit not be so easy to prove : but there seems 
no good reason why the course of the pastor should not be imitated by the meeting-house, 
when the latter has so good an opportunity. 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. "73 

80011 as the shades of eveniii.i;- supervene. 

Begins the strife of gas and kerosene. 

On either side assembling soon a host, 

And occup.ying each important post. 

Are not these chambers heated? But inquire : 

You cannot see nor feel a spark of tire 1 

But in a darksome chamber under ground 

A Cyclops and his furnace may be found, 

Who mingles flood and flame by arts unknown. 

And for his fuel, burns the very stone I 

Is tins Old Lynn? These woods, that, ages since. 

Were every yeoman's boast and confidence. 

Are turned to tracts volcanic, whence the fire 

Sweeps pine and maple, bush and ugly briar. 

Till lands that once our grandsires prized so well. 

And gladly bought, are only fit to sell ! 

Oh. what would happen, if we could unbind 
The bands of Death, and lead the astonished mind 
Of old John Burrill back to Lynn once more ; 
Her Clerk for thirty years, her pride for many a score? 
How would his spirit stand aghast to see 
The wonders wrought by his posterity I 
The Common fenced; the '• Tunnel " gone entire; * 
The town disguised with frequent street and spire : 
The flag of Britain changed for Stars and Stripes ; 
The cocked-up hats for ten-inch '• funnel-pipes; " 
Phosphorus matches "stead of flint and steel : 
St. Louis flour for coarse domestic meal. 
Pictures grow under glass, like monthly pinks ; 
The telegraph writes here what Europe thinks; 
Horses go mowing ; the wild whistle screams ; 
And steam-fire engines jet their torrent streams. 
Oh, good John Burrill I our first Councillor. 
To whom we barely now have added four 1 1 
What staggering hesitations — woful doubts — 
Would come across his spirit, as the shouts 
Of modern Lynn should strike upon his ear. 
Strange as the language of an unknown sphere I 
With naught to link this era to his own 
Save old High Rock and its unchanging stone. 
The bluff" Nahants, the river serpentine 
That winds through Saugus and her meadows green. 

* The old mcetiug-house of the First Church, familiarly known as the " Tunnel," wa.< 
removed from the Common, where it had for many years been a notable object, in 1827. 

t Lynn lias been successively represented in the Executive Council of the State, by 
Hon. John Burrill, Hon. Ebenezer Bukrill, Hon. Ezr.v Midge, and Hon. John B. 
Alley. To these is to be added the name of Hon. Rolanm) G. Usher, the late Mayor. 
11 



74 THE CITY HALL. 

And here and there some portions, worn and spoiled, 

Of the old marsh-dyke that the fathers piled ; 

But not a dwellina: that he ever knew, 

But is removed, torn down, burnt, <i-one from view. 

And seeing how with houses we behave. 

He 'd pause, and sadly say. '"They must have moved my grave." 

But would we have his Lynn instead of ours, 
And barter blushing fruit for fading flowers? 
Nay, let the worthy past the past remain. 
But sound our harp to a more vigorous strain ! 
Why should our host of twenty thousand souls. 
Whose craft is known as far as ocean rolls, 
Whose purse holds half a score of millions now. 
Envy those villagers behind the plow? 
'T was theirs to break the clod and sow the grain ; 
To clear the oak and savage from the plain ; 
To dig the marble from its quarry-bed, 
And roll it forth with toil of hand and head. 
■Tis ours to reap that grain, and haste to feed 
The multitude, that crowd and cry for need. 
'T is ours to hew that marble into form. 
And make it beautiful ; nay, even warm 
With vital spirit. Late indeed we are : 
Too long the world has waited for your share, 
O men of Lynn ! till cavils, taunts and jeers 
Have come to be familiar to your ears. 
•^ You 've four great names." say they, '' in history, — 
Gray, Pitcher, Veal, and the Great Serpent of the Sea ! " 

Hand back the insult ! What if we confess 
We never wore the ermine on our dress ; 
We never had diplomas for our toil, 
Xor built up colleges upon our soil ; 
We banished our first lawyer,* and were shy 
Our place in General Court to occupy ; 
Confess, indeed, that never, from the first, 
Was any learned greatness by us nursed? 
We are not holden for our fathers' sin I 
Nor must we stay where we have alwa3''s been. 
Our record, written since we knew our place, 
Reads not to our discredit or disgrace ! 
Nay, we will boast! There was a day when Wrong 
Round Sumter wound her slimy folds and strong, 

♦ " In 1808, Benjamin Merrill, Esq., the first lawyer at Lynn, came into town. . . . 
A deputation of the citizens called on him, with the request that he would leave the place, 
It being apprehended that evil and strife would abound wherever a lawyer's tent was 
pitched. He took the matter in good part, and soon departed." [History of Lynn, p. 370. 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 75 

And father AiniAiiAM called for help, and cried 

To the Great People I Did ye see our pride? 

Upleaping, with no stop for second breath, — 

Like the Black Roderick's clansmen on the heath, — 

Or panther sprinuing to avenge the death 

Of her own young, — full in the monster's teeth, 

Saw ye their mass that stern two hundred cast 

Like heavy javelin, Hying keen and fast, 

Baptized witli weeping? — while the trumpet-twang 

Of their clear cry through Massachusetts rang 

Like the wild horn the dying Roland blew ! 

'• We have more men than guns ! WHAT SHALL WE DO ! ■" 

There spoke the spirit of the sires once more I 
Let cavillers put that upon the score ! 
But now a diflereut scene comes o'er my eyes. 
Far from this place and its hilarities ; 
I see Antietara's gory field of corn, 
And hills of Gettysburg-, by cannon shorn ! 
Fair Spotsylvania weeping blood I see ; 
The Wilderness, and dead by every tree ! 
By Petersburg I hear the thundering mine ; 
By Weldon"s track I mark the saber shine ! 
I see the fort, the hospital, the tent. 
And vultures following where the Eagle went I 

And 'mid it all a calm, strong man goes on * 
With step untiring, and a voice whose tone 
Is music to the soldier, as he kneels 
And binds his wounds, 'mid broken cannon-wheels. 
Or wipes his bleeding brow, and hears the words, — 
The last the thick and clogging breath attbrds, — 
Treasures them well, and with some keepsake, found 
Next the poor heart, beneath the harness bound. 
" Sends them home tenderlJ^"' I see him bring 
The priceless water from the bubbling spring. 
To slake the mad blood-fever ; now he lifts 
The battered patriot, when the battle shifts. 
To the soft stretcher, pillowing his head 
With his stout hand, e'en to a safe and quiet bed. 

Then when the dim and melancholy night 
Comes brooding down on the retiring fight. 

* Lynn will do well to remember, that upon her soil, and of her best and oldest blood, 
was born, July 3, 1828, GARDiifKR Tufts, since Lieut.-Colonel and Apent of the State of 
Massachusetts for the care of her wounded soldiers. No verification of tlie picture drawn 
18 needed, beyond the earnest remark of a one-armed veteran to the author — " You can't 
catch a soldier to say anything against Gardiner Tufts I " 



76 I'HE dTY HALL. 

And scatteied Ihes gleam out, and drummers few 

In the dark distance beat the sad tattoo, 

Through the full hospital I see him pass. 

Sleepless, though midnight sands have left the glass, 

With gentle word endeavoring to calm 

The wild delirium, or the soothing balm 

On parched lips dropping softlj' ; soon is he 

By yonder cot-side, writing on one knee 

In ready tablet, many a tender thought 

That the poor shattered arm can handle not, 

Nor musket more, and ere the breaking day 

The message flies to those that cannot bear delay . 

1 see that strong man, when the field of slain 
Has been relieved, and stillness rules again. 
Bringing the weeded widow on his arm. 
With cheerful speech composing her alarm, 
Past the long line where fallen heroes sleep. 
To where one separate, greenly-verdured heap 
Bears the dear name that she cannot forget 
Till her own life-sun shall grow dim and set. 
He points the record true ; her sad commands 
He executes with swift and willing hands, 
And her " God bless you ! " is his rich reward. 
The widow's draft, accepted by the Lord ! 

Oh, type of manly mercy ! Is there one 
That envies not what such a hand has done? 
What were the sheen of coronets and crowns, — 
The dignity of titles and of gowns, — 
■ The rule of armies, — to the honor gained 

By him whom smitten thousands call their Friend? 
Whom does he personate? Who claims his kin? 
Hark I 3Iuse of History, write it ! That was Lynn ! 



King out, ye gala-bells, your merriest peal ! 
Sound, cornets ! and ye tuneful reeds, unseal 
Your birdlike throats, and make these autumn hours 
To blossom full with wealth of music-flowers ! 
Oh, glorious Flag of our America! 
We put thee on, our freedom suit to-day ! 
Nobler than toga that the Roman wore. 
Grander than purple of an emperor! 
Why should we not rejoice? Who gives us blame? 
Writing, with songs, upon these walls our claim 
To rank among the cities of the age. 
And win fair mention upon Time's full page! 



(CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 77 



Be glad, ye people ! Dedicate your Hall 
With honors! Bring the strangers, one and all. 
And point and say, "We earned and builded this! 
No despot laid these stones ; no dark abyss 
Engulfed a thousand helots, that this pile 
Might rise, coniniemorating crime so vile ! 
But freemen reared these arches, and are paid ; 
And freemen own them, and shall be obeyed 
Whene'er the sacred suffrage shall ordain 
Who shall sit here and hold the public rein." 



O that this day had lasted ! or that Death 
Had paused awhile; for even now, beneath 
The fallen leaves how many lie, whose eyes 
Had loolvcd with joy on these solemnities ! 
Oh sainted man, whose clear and faithful pen 
Left such fair record for all coming men. 
Striving to have thy page unstained and right. 
As thine own spirit in thy Master's sight. 
Could not thy ripe 3^ears linger ere their fall. 
A little longer? — for this festival 
Seems incomplete without thy brow serene. 
Lending a silent radiance to the scene ! 
Oh, once how beautiful to see thee stand. 
When Faction hotly clenched her hastj' hand ; 
And when the freemen of the former Lynn 
Wrangled and dazed themselves \\ith spiteful din. 
Came thy mild words lilve oil upon the wave. 
And Wrath grew calm, and Eage forgot to rave ! 
Good old Town Clerk! * thou Christian, art not here. 
We cannot give thee welcome to our cheer I 
God grant that thou instead, in vesture bright, 
Wallvcst where walls are built of chrysolite. 
And naught a window needs, nor lamp to burn. 
In the pure light of God's own smile eterne ! 

And yet another face I fain would see,t 
But miss it still. Tell me, how can it be? 
Where art thou, champion of this building fair, 
Who fought for it when others did not dare ? 

* Thomas Bowler, Clerk of the Town of Lynn from 1831 to 1848, died July 23, 1867, 
respected by all who knew his excellent qualities. 

t Otis Newhall, for many years Keeper of Pine Grove Cemetery, and Censor of 
Births, died Jan. 9, 18fi7, beloved by all his fellow-citizens, being at the time an Alderman 
elect of the city. Of five sons sent by him into the army, one fell at the second battle of 
Bull Run, and one perished at Andersonville. 



78 THE CITY HALL. 



'T is tinishecl now — complete — and art thou gone? 

And wilt thou never see one single stone? 

Art thou not hindered where the pine grove sighs? 

Or charmed by some sweet infant's crj'stal eyes ? 

Thou, who didst mark our births and burials here, — 

Thou, who didst watch the cradle and the bier, — 

What dread injunction can withhold thee now 

From mingling in this throng thine ever sunny brow? 

Vain, vain ! no trumpet of perennial joy, 

No mother, singing to her infant boy, 

No loyal gathering, thirsting for the right, 

No public service, stretching through the night. 

Can waken thee, or summon thee afresh. 

To hold communion with the things of flesh ! 

Not thy five patriot sons, reduced, alas I 

To three, can call thee from the Silent Pass. 

Though crying with that agony of will 

That hurled them 'gainst the foe at Malvern's bloody hill. 

No, thou art gone ! Kind hands have laid thee down, 

With love and weeping, where so oft thine own 

Had others laid ; and now the winds go by, 

And strew thee o'er with blessings, tenderly ; 

While little children plant thy grave with vines. 

And garnish the green turf with eglantines. 

Breathe soft, ye horns ! — one gentle chord shall be 

For him whom all Lynn knew, — who knew no enemy I 



And now, ye chambers fair, ye virgin halls, 
Ye alcoves, where my voice unworthy falls 
This time, the first and last, perhaps, yet hear 
Its final echoes, ere their tone shall disappear! 

Long be the age, — far hence the day of gloom. 

When Ruin o'er you shakes his sable plume ! 

When these worn walls, like others, spread the plain. 

And none so poor to build them up again ! 

Far be the day that brings contempt and sneer 

For what we hallow with our prayers sincere. 

Or hostile ranks, with cursed and cruel ire. 

To give your marbles to the crackling fire I 

Far be the day when Faction shall embroil 

The sous of Lynn, and with Cabal shall spoil 

Your vestal dignities, and give you o'er 

To prostituting party ! Evermore, 

God keep you for his temple-courts, not less 

His erring children to protect and bless. 

Than where his praise is sung; but here his plan. 

Eternal Justice and the Rights of Man ! 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 79 

Oh, when upon this side the River dark 

There sliines not — lingers not — one vital spark 

That warms before me now — when all these eyes 

Are gone to look on the Eternities, — 

Still, 'neath your sheltering ceilings may there sit 

Our city's visible strength, her judgnient lit, 

Her heart of mercy; while no hateful stain 

Of civic badness, like the brand of Cain. 

Upon your walls a moment's place shall gain. 

Then shall my hari) have not been strung in vain ! 

Then shall there blessings scatter as the rain. 

And men bow down their hearts like ripened grain ! 

Put off thy shoes, O Lynn, with awe profound ! 

The place thou standest on shall then be Holy Ground ! 

This exercise was listened to with the closest atten- 
tion throughout, and frequent and flattering applause 
attended its delivery and followed upon its conclusion. 
The band added the solemn and moving strains of 
" America." At this moment City Marshal Allen G. 
Shepherd, standing at the right of the speaker's desk, 
gave a signal to Officers Joseph A. Hathaway and 
Merritt S. Foye, placed in the rear. They immedi- 
ately drew aside the drapery of flags that had graced 
the centre, and displayed to the eyes of the audience a 
beautifully carved marble tablet, placed in the wall, and 
bearing in letters of gold the following inscription : — 



CITYKAXiL. ^- 



Corner Stone laid Nov. 23, 1865. 

PETER M. NEAL, 

MAYOR. 

Dedicated Nov. 30, 1867. 

ROLAND G. USHER, 

MAYOR. 

Gridley J. F. Bryant and Arthur Gilman, Architects. ^ 

<• ' V'v y ^-y^'^y-^.-y--!i. y -v y ^s. y-^^y ....y .t.-y-twy^.-y ^. y ^. y -»^-^gS^ 



80 THE CITY HALL. 

As the cheers which were given at sight of this ele- 
gant and appropriate work begun to subside, the J\Iayor 
introduced to the assembly Judge James E,. Newhall, 
who addressed the citizens as follows : — 

Fellow-Citizois, — Whoever takes a view from the tower of the 
edifice in whicli we are now assembled, cannot fail to be impressed 
by the maj^nificence of the scene presented. The woodland hills, 
skirting along the back-gi-ound, the outlying fields and meadows, and, 
more than all, the glorious ocean, present natural features that are 
ever charming to the eye. And then he looks down and around upon 
the wide-spread city, with its countless habitations, of every hue and 
every style, with here and there some ponderous business structure 
lifting its pretentious head far above the common level. And then 
upon the busy streets, with their popidation of men, eager in their 
various pursuits ; women flitting about in their gay colors : hurryhig 
vehicles of every description ; all dwarfed by the distance, but form- 
ing a most pleasing feature of a stirring picture. These sights are at 
once attractive and interesting to the merely curious observer. 

But the reflective spectator will look beyond. As he hears the 
hum of business arising from every quarter, — the rumbling of ma- 
chinery and the sharp click of the busy tool ; as he sees the flaunting 
insignia of vigorous trade displayed on every hand, — he is led almost 
to do homage to that enterprise which controls and sustains such 
activity. Yet he remembers that these things pertain to merely 
individual progress, and that there is a higher interest which over- 
shadows all, — that comprehensive pviblic interest which looks to the 
general good, irrespective of the individual, — and realizes that as 
Avithout an enlightened and liberal government no nation can truly 
prosper, so without such a government no true prosperity in a single 
city can be attained. 

Here is to be the "■ head centre " of our city government, the regu- 
lator of our municipal interests, the fountain-head of oiu- collective 
prosperity. And is not the edifice which we now dedicate a worthy 
monument of the liberality and sense of fitness possessed by our 
rulers? Would not anything short of this rather do us dishonor? 
And can any one claim that it indicates anything more than om- 
present attainment in population and thrift in business? But elegant 
halls do not make wise legislators, any more than does sumptuous 
raiment make wise men or virtuous women. Yet then' is a fitness 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 



HI 



of things, a harmony, that must be preserved, or wc feel a jar. Ap- 
pearances, though sometimes deceitful, quite as often possess a ruling 

power. 

From the tower above us, the eye of the observer, as it roves 
toward the sea, will rest a moment on once picturesque and romantic 
Sagamore Hill, now crowned by airy habitations. There, upon that 
charming crest, within the sound of the ever-rolling sea, it may be 
said the first council-place of Lynn was located ; but it was before 
the name of Lynn was known on this side of the ocean, and while the 
land was still in possession of the race who preceded us. But the 
social economy of that race was circumscribed, and the taAvny rulers 
had few public interests to consider ; therefore a wide-spreading tree 
was sufficient as a place for their deliberations. Upon that command- 
ing hill, around which cluster so many traditions of stirring interest, 
the wise men of that uoav forlorn and almost extinct race pursued 
their deliberations, uttered their rugged eloquence, settled their rude 
poUcy, And who shall say that for them and for their interests, those 
councils, held in the open air, were not as sufficient as the councils to 
be held in this structure will be for us ? And who shall say that their 
decisions, untrammeled by precedent, unhampered by rule, were not 
as wise and as patriotic as any that will be made here? Then, a few 
scattered wigwams sent their curling smoke upward among the giant 
trees that occupied the beautiful plain on which our city smiles. The 
arts of civilized life were unknown, — even those primary ones which 
we can hardly conceive of being unknoA\'n wherever man exists. And 
no prophetic eye looked forward to the wonders of this, our day, — 
this day, when, still lingering in tlie tower, we behold churches and 
school-houses rising in every quarter, and pointing to interests and 
duties of a higher nature than all the vaunted progress in the useful 
arts and the business relations of life, — interests and duties in com- 
parison with which need hardly be named even those wondrous 
achievements of science and art, by which the locomotive is sent 
whirring through our midst, and intelligence is conveyed on the silent 
wings of lightning to the uttermost corners of the continent, and even 
beyond the ocean. What, we may well ask, would the little band of 
settlers, who on that bright June day, in 1629, pitched their tents on 
this smiUng plain, and began to call it their new home, have thought, 
had one appeared to them, and foretold that by the time their children 
of the seventh generation should appear upon the stage of life, but 
two or three hours would be required for communication \vith friends 
far away in the Old World ; that messages could thus speedily be 
12 



82 THE CITY HALL. 

driven from contiueut to continent, beneath the stormy waves, upon 
which they had for months been tossed in peril and in dread. Yet, 
knowing their principles, their discouragements, and the objects of 
their immigration, we may conclude that they would have been as 
greatly astonished and more highly rejoiced had some prophet fore- 
told the great onward march of civil and religious liberty in this then 
benighted and forlorn heritage, and the grandeur of the attainment 
within these comparatively few years. 

And as we still linger reflectingly in tlie tower, how natural is the 
transition from the past to the fixture, — how natural the imagination 
as to what will be the appearance of things as far in the future as the 
first settlement is in the past. Then, the progress of the community 
may liave been such that this edifice will have passed its usefulness ; 
these walls will have begun to bear the marks of age, and to look 
quaint and unfashionable, and these apartments to be all insufficient 
for the public purposes. Our streets will then be lined with towering 
structures of brick and stone ; the adjacent hills adorned with villas 
and lordly seats ; and the ear will be greeted by the musical chimes 
issuing from some commanding tower that Avill look down benignantly 
upon the one or two church edifices of this day that will have survived 
the leveling of time. Tlie streets will be crowded by a jostling popu- 
lation, bedecked in raiment of material and fashion that is not within 
the scope even of our imagination ; and they will gaze into the Avin- 
dows of the picture-shopa, and laugh at the quaint and ludicrous 
appearance of their fathers and mothers of this generation. Theatres 
and halls of song will attract the seekers for amusement. And will 
there not be, too, noble charities at work ; feeling hearts and benevo- 
lent hands ; all the blessed machinery that can aid in making mankind 
better and happier? But as to the improvements in science and art 
that may take place within the period, who shall venture a prediction? 
In view of Avhat has been done diu'ing the past few years, it would 
hardly be matter of astonishment should means be found by which to 
traverse the air itself, and move whithersoever one Avill, literally upon 
the wings of the wind. 

And, extending our glance perluips a little farther into the fiitnre, 
we reach the time — and that time will come as surely as to-morrow 
comes — when this structure, in which we are noAv assembled with 
feelings of pardonable pride, will be dismantled, and stand forth an 
almost useless relic of the past, — the pillars fallen, and the very 
foundations shattered, — a relic of the past, interesting, we may well 
suppose, at least to the antiquary, who will gaze upon it and talk 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 83 

of the old, prosperous days wlieii it was erected, and of these, our 
present city fathers, as strange old dreamers, who, on the whole, were 
honest, and perhaps had some just conception of the requirements of 
the time in which they lived, but who Avould be entirely unlit to 
manage affairs in those improved days. We may call ourselves the 
Young America of the present ; but they- will call us the Old Fogies' 
of the past. 

But we nuist remain no longer in the tower, however pleasing the 
prospect or grateful the reflections. And but a brief space is left for 
a glimpse at a few of the apartments. 

Here is the Library Room ; a spacious apartment, which, in future 
years, may be the storehouse from which will be drawn the most 
satisfying aliment the cultivated mind can crave. We are now able 
to point the stranger to a room that no library may feel ashamed to 
occupy. But when that stranger inquires about the library itself, it 
will not be so easy to return a satisfactory answer. Now, indeed, is 
the golden opportunity for some wealthy citizen to give his name a 
local immortality, and do a lasting good to the conamunity, by bestow- 
ing such a donation as will make the library what it ought to be, and 
relieve that cherished institution from the good-natured reflections of 
strangers, that will surely come if improvement be not speedily made. 
Now cast a look into the magnificent Council Rooms. Here will 
the grave fathers meet to debate the great matters that are to accel- 
erate or retard the wheels of our mvmicipal progi'ess. Here will 
industrious tongues develop all sorts of new ideas, some commanding 
and fruitful, others, possibly, incomprehensible and barren. But we 
are boiuid to believe that none will be found here but such as are 
zealous for the good of the community they represent. Lynn has 
always had worthy and sound counsellors to advocate her interests. 
When she was yet in her infancy, she had, among other noble souls, 
the venerable Whiting, whose virtuous spouse, though her head now 
lies as low as the humblest in yon burying-place, sprang from a direct 
line of royalty, and could, without one broken link, trace her ancestry 
to the great Danish sovereign, Canute, who, to teach his courtiers the 
folly of obsequious flattery, in such a significant way commanded 
the sea not to pass the bound which he had set. The town received 
its name fronx the revered man ; and for nearly half a century he 
continued to labor diligently and pray fervently for her prosperity. 
And then there was the wise John Burrill, who was Town Clerk for 
thirty years, a Representative in the (xeueral Court for more than 
twenty years, speaker, judge and counsellor : and who was constantly 



84 THE CITY HALL. 

performiug the duties of the more humble town offices during ahnost 
the entire period of his mature life ; who labored much, for no reward 
save the consciousness of performing his duty, and the hope of bene- 
fiting the community in which he dwelt. Then there was Oliver 
Purchis, conspicuous in the colonial councils, useful in the manage- 
ment of town affairs, and ever on the alert — especially in the 
troublous times of Andros — to see that none of the interests of Lynn 
were compromised. There, also, was Robert Bridges, who for many 
years held the high colonial office of Assistant, was Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and also a member of the Quarterly Court. 
He also lent efficient aid in managing town affairs, and probably 
felt that he was doing a good work while exercising his magistratic 
authority for the suppression of that Quaker heresy which puritanical 
fervor could not brook. But I cannot further enumerate. None of 
these were accustomed to assemble in such luxurious halls as are 
here provided. In some cold corner, supplied with rough benches, 
under uncertain shelter, perhaps with their heads sprinkled by rain 
or powdered by snow, by the flickering light of a tallow-dip, they 
discussed questions which involved as really great principles as any 
which will ever be brought up for consideration within these walls. 
And who shall say that those questions were not discussed as faith- 
fully, and determined as wisely, as any will ever be discussed and 
determined here? The luxurious seats which our municipal repre- 
sentatives will here occupy may have a tendency to lull the senses 
and induce repose ; biit we have no fear that the sentinels who assem- 
ble here from the various sections of the city will be guilty of sleep- 
ing at their posts. 

There is a natural apprehension of the fitness of things in all well 
ordered minds. And this leads to that more decorous course of be- 
liavior in a place of elegant appointments than in a place less care- 
fully arranged. Governed by this rule, then, how extremely courteous 
and circumspect must be the conduct of those who assemble under 
this roof; and how incongruous would seem anything coarse or 
violent. True, one may point to our national capitol for examples 
that would seem to make havoc of any such theory ; but it will be 
observed of what class of minds I spoke, and remembered that to 
all rules there are exceptions. There is, however, I apprehend, no 
fear that these halls will ever be desecrated by unseemly behavior. 
Throughout our whole history, our mimicipal deliberations have been 
marked by a degree of courtesy and earnest good-will seldom wit- 
nessed, and which is a most promising augury for the future. Our 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 85 

custom of isclecting municipal representatives from different political 
parties is- most praiseworthy, and we trust it may be ever continued. 
It allays bitterness of feeling and small jealousies, and does much 
toward silencing the tongue of detraction. 

One glimpse we will take into the room of the City Clerk. But 
here, unhappily for the curious delver, we shall find none of the 
records which certify of the first doings of our municipal fathers. In 
the dim light of some closing day, we may imagine the ghost of the 
venerable Richard Sadler, in his velvet small clothes and embroidered 
doublet, disappearing in the gathering gloom, — Richard Sadler, the 
lirst Clerk of the Writs, and first Town Clerk, who, more than two 
centuries ago, reared his humble habitation at the foot of the great 
rock which still perpetuates his name, near the junction of Walnut 
and Holyoke Streets. He was a man of education and prominence, 
and acted in the capacity of magistrate as Avell as Town Clerk. But 
all his records, together with all the records of two or three of his 
successors in office, have disappeared, — been burned, it is said. But 
it is most probable that those records, could they by any possibility 
be recovered, Avould now prove objects of curiosity rather than real 
value ; for the most important matters, particularly those relating to 
the divisions and transfers of real estate, appear also to have found a 
place on the county records. Indeed, besides what related to real 
estate, there was little of importance transpiring in those early times. 
But should a like fate overtake the records of the present period, in- 
calculable mischief would ensue. Look, then, at the perfect safety of 
the receptacle which is here furnished for these records, and rest fear- 
less of any future loss. We can hardly imagine any danger short of 
an inundation that would sweep the very building from its founda- 
tions, or an earthquake that would take us all down at one fell gulp. 

Let us also take a glance into the room of the Police Court. It is 
not, surely, to be expected that the most enjoyable atmosphere will 
prevail there, though at the present moment it has such attractions 
that many of the grave men who now hear me will presently be 
drawn thither. 

The long line of old worthies who performed the magistratic duties 
of our community have, Avith scarcely an exception, acquitted them- 
selves with honor and discretion, furnishing examples most profitable 
for imitation. Though most of the earlier ones took a sufficiently 
stern view of the breaches of the quaint laws of their times, and 
meted out penalties which, in these days, might be called cruel and un- 
natural, they were yet rigid duty-doers, and not obnoxious to the 



86 ■ THE CITY HALL. 

change of designed oppi-ession. Mr. Sadlei- has heen alluded to ; and 
he appears to have been in a good degree exempt from some of the 
more rigorous notions and prejudices of the times. Mr. Bridges has 
also been before alluded to. He Avas a man of eminent piety and 
benevolent tendencies, though he seems almost to have made it a part 
of his religion to enforce the severe laAvs against the poor Quakers. 
Johnson says, " He Avas endued with able parts, and forward to im- 
prove tliem to the glory of God and his people's good," He was a 
man of public spirit, and may be said to have been the father of the 
celebrated iron works established in Lynn in 1648, — the first in 
America. He was so anxious for their establishment, that he went 
to England, taking specimens of ore, and finally succeeded in forming 
a company of wealthy men there. He was likewise employed by the 
colonial authorities in one or tAvo important missions to the French. 
And for many years he was one of the most active and useful men in 
the community, filling, among other high offices, as before stated, 
those of Representative and Assistant. As a magistrate, his integrity 
was entirely unquestioned. And he had a hand in making laws as 
Avell as executing them. In 1645 he was on the committee to draft 
" possitive lawes " against lying. Sabbath-breaking, profanity, drunk- 
enness, &c. And he was one of the grave men who joined with the 
Governor in a protest against the prevailing custom of wearing long- 
hair, " after the manner of ruffians and barbarous Indians." But Ave 
cannot spend more time in the company of the old magistrates. The 
Police Court was established in 1849. Hon. Thomas B. NeAvhall 
presided as Judge for the first seventeen years, and retired Avith the 
Avell-merited approbation of his felloAv-citizens. And may God grant 
that his successor may hot fail in the right performance of the anxious 
and perplexing duties. 

Let us, finally, take a momentaiy look into those well-appointed 
receptacles for the temporary confinement of offijnders. They are 
not, indeed, so elegant or pleasing that one need commit an offence 
for the mere purpose of a few hours' rest there, though doubtless many 
a A'agrant Avill there find more comfortiil)le qiuirters than he has been 
accustomed to in Avhat he calls his home. 

And then there are the neighboring lodging-rooms, hospitablv 
provided for unfortimate Avanderers and destitute strangers. These, 
though unpretending, and furnishing no fair prospect of the outer 
Avorld, are among the most worthy apartments in the edifice. Let us 
pity the forlorn Avanderers Avho may occupy them. Yes, pity them, 
and pity, too, their guilty neighbors, many of Avhom, perhaps, for 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 87 

want of" parental nr Clu-i:<tiaii jruidancc, tVom poverty or other dis- 
tress, have fallen into the snares and ti-aps of the ever-watchfnl min- 
ister of evil. 

But we nuist return from our rapid excursion through the apart- 
ments. And, were it not entirely a work of supererogation, I might 
say a word of those who are presently to occupy the public offices. 
It would be a delicate task, and I will not assume it, any farther than 
in a general way to bear witness to the entire fidelity and ability with 
which our muui(!ipal affairs in their various ramifications are admin- 
istered by the present incumbents. And when all are properly in- 
stalled in their several niches in this noble edifice, none will doubt 
that the desirable fitness of things, before alluded to, has been well 
preserved. And as this generation of public officers passes away, 
may others succeed, and others still, increasing in wisdom and dili- 
gence, as duties multiply and new interests develop. And when, in 
some remote period, a new edifice must be erected to meet the require- 
ments of the time, may those who gather together to dedicate it assem- 
l)le beneath the same glorious national flag that now waves above our 
own heads, rejoicing as citizens of a still united nation, spreading from 
sea to sea. 

On the conclusion of this address the band phiyed 
*' Hail Columbia" 

The Mayor and the members of the City Council then 
proceeded to the Council Chamber, where the ceremony 
of dedication was formally declared to have been accom- 
plished. 

From thence the Mayor and members of the City 
Government, together with a number of invited guests, 
to the number of two or three hundred, including the 
ex-Mayors and other past officials of the city, the archi- 
tects, Messrs. Bryant & Oilman, Dr. George B. Loring, 
of Salem, Judge. Warren, of Charlestown, members of 
the press of Lynn and other places in the county, the 
mechanics who had been employed upon the building, 
and several of our older and prominent citizens, and 
others, proceeded to the basement story, where tables 
were spread with a bountiful collation, prepared under 



88 THE CITY HALL. 

the superintendence of Messrs. J. B. Stiles and G. F. 
Sleeper. It is needless to say that this part of the ex- 
cises was admirably performed, and gave great satisfac- 
tion. There was an abundant supply of cold meats, 
poultry, cake and pastry, and plenty of hot coffee and 
tea. If any went away dissatisfied or unsupplied, it 
certainly was not the fault of the caterers, for there was 
plenty of everything and that which was good. A couple 
of hours was devoted to this part of the exercises, after 
which the Mayor and members of the City Government 
again proceeded to the Council Chamber. 

When all who could had obtained places, either upon 
the floor or in the spacious galleries, Mayor Usher, 
who presided, rose and said that they had hoped to 
hear some remarks from J. C. Stickney, Esq., but he 
regretted to say that he had received a letter from that 
gentleman stating that he was unable to attend, owing 
to his mother being at the point of death. He (the 
Mayor) had now the pleasure of introducing to them a 
gentleman who had held a high position in the councils 
of the nation, as the Representative in Congress from 
this district, and who, by his energy and faith in what 
he might term the great enterprise of modern times, 
had contributed more to the success of the great Pacific 
Railroad than any other man in this section. He beg- 
ged to introduce to them the Hon. John B. Alley. 

Mr. Alley, upon coming forward, was greeted with a 
round of applause, after which he spoke substantially 
as follows : — 

Mr. Mayor and Fell otu- Citizens, — This to me is an occasion of 
great interest, — more interesting, more gratifying, perhaps, or at 
least as much so, as to any one present. A citizen and a native 
of Lynn, " I love the land that bore me," and I rejoice to see around 
me evidences of such thrift and prosperity as are indicated by tlie 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 89 

erection of tliis beautit'iil buildiug. Under .sueli circumstances, I 
cannot but feel gratified upon this, the most interesting o(;casion in 
our municipal history. Mr. Mayor, you have kindly alluded to my 
connection with the Union Pacific Railroad, — an enterprise which 
to-day excites the wonder and challenges the admiration of the civil- 
ized world, — an enterprise which I think but few understand and 
comprehend in its fullest extent. I may be pardoned, sir, in view of 
your kind mention of it, for an allusion to that enterprise, especially 
as it has an important bearing on the interests of Lynn, and as it is 
an undertaking not only of national impoi'tauce, but of world-wide 
interest. When successfully completed it will revolutionize the com- 
merce of the world, and make the city of New York the great city 
of the earth. (Cheers.) My attention was called to it many years 
ago, and from its first inception to the present time I have taken the 
deepest interest in its projection, and have contributed whatever I 
could, in means and effort, to promote its success ; and I am proud 
to tell my fellow-citizens that three days ago we I'eceived the gratify- 
ing intelligence, in a telegram from the engineer of the road, that the 
line was completed to the base, and graded to the summit, of the Rocky 
Mountains (Cheers), and if they had good weather it would soon be 
entirely completed to the summit. Think of it, Mr. Mayor, — within 
one month from this time there will be complete railway commimica- 
tion from Lynn to the summit of the Rocky Mountains. I am glad 
to say, fellow-citizens, — for it is but little known, and for some reason 
it seems to have been concealed from the public view, — that the 
success of this great enterprise was due more to the capitalists and 
enterprise of Massachusetts men than to all the rest of the country 
combined. A few capitalists of Massachusetts alone, almost, liad the 
courage to invest their money, and it appears certain now that they 
will undoubtedly meet with the success they so eminently deserve. 
(Cheers.) When we consider what vast consequences are to flow 
from the completion of this road, which will connect the rock-bound 
coast of the Atlantic to the golden shores of the Pacific, and send all 
the travel from Western Europe, and all the valuable commerce of 
Asia, China and the East Indies via California, through the United 
States, it is easy to see that New York would become what London 
now is, the great city of exchanges for the world. Mr. Mayor, 1 am 
somewhat of an enthusiast upon this subject, and some of my friends 
say that 1 have got the Pacific Railroad '*on the brain." (Laughter.) 
I can oidy say that if 1 leave no other inheritance to my children than 
that of being somewhat instrumental in the consummation of this 
13 



90 THE CITY HALL. 

great work, they will be able to say that their progenitor has not 
lived in vain. 

But enough of this. I desire to say a few words al)out the good 
old town of Lynn, which will be more appropriate, perhaps, than a 
speech upon the Pacific Railroad. I feel deeply interested in its pros- 
perity. When I consider what Lynn Avas, and what she is to-day, I 
cannot bi;t feel, in common with all others, deeply grateful for its 
pi'osperity and proud of its success. But I must say that I think that 
Lynn never had full justice done her, at any period of her history, in 
regard to the business she has prosecuted. There is no more honor- 
able calling than shoemaking, — no branch of productive industry 
more important to the country than the shoe and leather interest of 
to-day. The history of improvement in shoemaking is but the history 
of the progress of civilization in all ages of the world. Go back to 
the days of the ancient Greeks, — and they were the first that we 
have any account of as Avearing shoes, — you Avill find that those 
of them who wore any protection to the feet at all, wore sandals of 
leather and linen, fastened over the instep by straps. That continued 
for centuries ; and upon investigating this subject you will find that 
the progress of shoemaking in comfort and in iiniversality of use kept 
even pace with the growth of civilization. It is an industry which 
has received the fostering care of all governments of the world, and 
has been, over and over again, the subject-matter of legislative enact- 
ments, both in the Old World and the New. I was glad to hear the 
Mayor, in his able and interesting address, speak of the history of 
shoemaking in this towni. He spoke of its receiving its first impetus 
in 1750, — before which it was of but little importance, — when a 
AVelshman named Dagyr came here, and was so superior a workman, 
and taught so many apprentices, that he gave an impetus to the trade 
it had never received before. I beg the Mayor's pardon when I say 
that Lynn he/ore that period was noted for making good shoes. The 
first instance I know of Lynn being mentioned as a shoemaking 
town was in the first newspaper ever published in this country, by 
James Franklin, a brother of Dr. Franklin, which in 1720 mentioned 
Lynn favorably as a shoemaking town. From that time till 1750 
little was known of it, but the trade gradually increased. In that 
year Dagyr came over here, and was very distinguished as a shoe- 
maker. He was spoken of in the Boston Gazette of that day as the 
celebrated shoemaker of Essex County. In 1 764 the London Chron- 
icle spoke of Lynn shoes as being better made and of better style 
than most of the shoes imported from England. That is a tribute 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATIOIS. 91 

from a London paper more than a hundred years ago, to the .superi- 
ority of Lynn shoes, of which we may Avell be proud. 

Fellow-citizens, I cannot but feel great satisfaction in the fact that 
I have been a shoemaker, as most of my fellow-citizens have been at 
some period or another of their lives, — whatever be theu* station 
now, high or low, — and a more noble calling, as I have said before, 
no man ever had. Full justice has never been done to this interest. 
It has always been regarded as a calling that was hardly equal, or at 
least not above, otlier callings of a similar character. I contend that 
it is not only equal, but in historic interest it is superior, to almost 
any other mechanical trade or calling. Statisticians tell us, as an 
historic fact, that more distinguished men have risen from the shoe- 
maker's bench than from any other mechanical branch of industry. 
Now this is a fact that the shoemakers of Lynn should know and 
take encouragement from. This, I suppose, is ascribable to the fact 
— which all shoemakers of the past will appreciate — that men can 
work at shoemaking, and have their work progress, while thinking of 
and discussing other matters, — thus furnishing great opportunity for 
disciplining and improving the mind, withoiit much hindrance to their 
employment. As I said before, shoemaking has been the frequent 
subject of legislation, in the Old World as well as the New. Before 
the War of the Roses, in England, it was the fashion to wear sharp- 
pointed shoes, which turned up and came as high as the knee, and 
were fastened to it. This extravagance was prohibited by act of 
Parliament in 1465, allowing only the nobility to wear shoes with 
points turning up more than two inches. About the middle of the 
sixteenth century it was the fashion to wear square-toed shoes, the 
toe being eight or ten inches wide. In 1558, Queen Mary issued a 
proclamation forbidding shoes being worn over six inches "wide at the 
toe. The first revenue act under our government was passed in July, 
1789, and ladies' shoes were protected from foreign competition by a 
duty of seven cents per pair ; and Washington, who passed through 
Lynn about three months after the passage of that act, spoke, upon 
his return, of Lynn as " the famous shoe town." In 1794 the people 
of Lynn, finding their business languishing, in consequence of exces- 
sive foreign importations of shoes, procured, through the influence of 
a prominent merchant of Philadelphia, additional protection of five 
cents a pair. From that time Lynn has progressed steadily, and has 
now the lead in her specialty, so that it can never be wi-ested from 
her, whatever croakers may say to the contrary. 

Mr. Mayor, you kindly alluded to my services in the national gov- 



92 THE CITY HALL. 

ernment. When I look upon the growth of Lytm, a.s we have seen it 
exhibited and heard it portrayed here to-day, I feel that the progress 
she has made, the prosperity she has attained, and the astonishing 
results she has accomplished, great as they are, and challenging our 
admiration and gratitude, do not even bear comparison with the great 
progress of the nation. This nation has not yet had an existence of 
eighty years, and yet when the First Congress was convened in New 
York, on the 4th of March, 1789, of the twenty-two Senators elected 
only eight assembled to inaugurate the new government, and only 
thirteen Representatives. It was not until the 6th of April, some five 
weeks elapsing, that, after sending couriers and letters innumerable in 
all directions over the country, a sufficient number of members could 
be got together to form a quorum, who counted the votes, and declared 
George Washington President, and John Adams Vice President, of the 
United States. At that time there were only eleven States in the' 
Union, and only seventy members elected to Congress, including both 
Houses ; and when Washington was inaugurated, on the 30tli of 
April, 1789, only forty-eight members of both Houses of Congi-ess 
were present at the inauguration. To-day there are as many States 
(including Louisiana) west of the Mississippi as there were in the 
whole Union in 1789. Only think of it, Mr. Mayor, — what a short 
period of time in which to accomplish such results ! Only those few 
years since we were a feeble nation, hardly able to stand alone. To- 
day w^e are the mightiest and most powerful nation on the face of the 
earth. Our flag waves in triumph over every sea. protecting the citi- 
zens of this mighty republic and their rights in every part of the 
habitable globe. (Cheers.) When we reflect on these facts, how can 
we feel otherwise than most thankful and grateful to the Author 
of our being for the privilege of living in such an age and country. 
(Cheers.) As I looked upon this building to-day, saw its beauty and 
heard its cost, I could not but reflect upon the public edifices of this 
country in the past. The building in which the government of the 
United States was first inaugurated. Old Federal Hall, in New York, 
and the structure in Independence Square, Philadelphia, where Con- 
gress sat for ten years after the inauguration of the new government, 
could neither of them bear comparison with the new City Hall of 
Lynn. The great City Hall, in New York, cost, I have heard, only 
half a million of dollars. It was erected in 1812, and was spoken 
of as the most magnificent building in the country, the wonder and 
admiration of the whole American people. Yet we have a building 
here, dedicated to the use of our municipal authorities, surpassing in 



(CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 93 

« 

beauty, aud almost equalling in cost, that early structure. But, Mr. 
Mayor, I will not detain you longer. 1 have already said more than 
I intended. Although our coimtry has not yet recovered from the 
hite tremendous struggle, as we could Avish, nevertheless we have a 
bi-ight future before us. Clouds aud darkness do indeed thicken 
arouud us, but not so deep a darkness as immediately succeeded the 
dose of the Revolutionary War ; aud the same beuiguaut Providence 
which guided us through the Rebellion to such a triumphant termina- 
tion will cari'y the nation safely through its present perils, and secure 
permanently to h the greatest of earthly blessings, — civil and religious 
liberty. (Cheers.) 

The Mayor begged to correct a slight misstatement 
which Mr. Alley had inadvertently made. He had said 
that the City Hall of New York had cost over half a 
million, and this building nearly as much as that. That 
was a mistake. This building had only cost a little 
more than half as much as the City Hall in New York, 
— less than $300,000. 

Mr. Alley explained that he did not mean to say that 
this building cost as much as that, but only compara- 
tively approximating its cost, and only mentioned it to 
illustrate the expansion of our ideas, the growth of our 
country, and the prosperity of our people. He had 
supposed, however, that the cost of this beautiful struc- 
ture exceeded the amount mentioned by the Mayor, and 
was glad to be corrected. 

The Mayor here remarked that we were favored with 
the presence of the man who was to be remembered as 
having laid the corner stone of this edifice. He took 
great pleasure in introducing our late Mayor, Hon. 
Peter M. Neal. 

Mr. Neal then addressed the audience as follows : — 

I have heard of a gentleman who, on being called on to speak at 
an entertainment, said he was taken entu'ely unawares, and had made 
no preparation. He spoke for a few minutes very fluently, and then 



94 THE CITY HALL. 

began to rub his head for an idea. He finally put his hand into hiy. 
pocket, drew out a manuscript, and finished his speech. A wag 
afterwards said to hiui, '■' Well, sir, it Avas very lucky you had that 
manuscript in your pocket, or I don't know how you wf>uld have got 
through." When I had an invitation here to-day, I presumed that 
some one might urge me to say a few words, so I took the precaution 
of putting a manuscript into my pocket. (Laughter.) 

A few thoughts suggest themselves of the times when this building 
was projected, or rather when Ave first thought of building a ncAv City 
Hall. It Avas in the year 1863, during the darkest of those dark days 
. of the rebellion, Avhen call after call was being made upon us for men 
and money to continue the gigantic struggle, — when the thoughts of all 
were turned to the great scheme before us, some Avith fear, but most 
with redoubled energy to battle for the right. And although we have- 
no doubt that a hall could have been buUt then much cheaper than at 
any time since, yet such was the uncertainty of things, — and as we 
knew not what might be required of us before the rebellion was put 
doAvn, or hoAv often the coffers of the rich might be draAATi upon, and 
that heavily, too, or what might be the pressure upon the mechanic 
and laboring man before we of the North should be able to conquer a 
peace, — that the committee having the matter of peiffecting plans 
and arrangements for budding, hesitated. They could not think it 
right to report in favor of commencing any great improvement, that 
would require any considerable oiitlay, till it was morally certain 
that we had enough to finish up the great work then before us. That 
time at length arrived, Avhen our arms Avere e\'erywhere victorious, 
and we knew that we had a country. Although the people Avere 
heavily taxed, yet we thought we knew the worst, — that we coidd 
see the end. The committee then reported in favor of building ; the 
foundations Avere laid, and upon those foundations this magnificent 
building, that we have met together this day to dedicate, has been 
raised with commendable diligence by the city governments of the 
last two years. Some may think it rather extravagant, but Avhat 
does it amount to? — a tax of one and three-quarters per cent. Avould 
pay the whole cost if laid at once, or one-eleventh of one per cent, 
annually assessed upon our valuation Avill pay the debt in twenty 
years, — an amount altogether too insignificant to be seriously thought 
of when we take into consideration that we have buUt a City Hall 
that is an ornament to our city, and one that wUl last for a century, 
and be ample for our childi-en's children. I for one am glad that we 
have got it, and that Ave have got just such a building as avc have. 



(EREMOMES OF DEDICATION. 



95 



uud 1 am willing to take my part ot" the odium, if odium there is to 
be, of being one who assisted in inaugurating this piece of exti-ava- 
gance. We have got the tallest kind of a City Hall, and let us see to 
it that none but the tallest kind of men occupy it. The old City Hall 
was commenced during the last war with Great Britain, and com* 
pleted after peace w^as proclaimed in 1815, The new building was 
commenced, too, in a time of war, and finished uow^ after peace is 
again restored, — a coincidence that is quite interesting to me. May 
it be an augury of continued prosperity to our city, in the same ratio 
as this building exceeds in its beautiful proportions our old City Hall, 
and as our last great struggle exceeded in magnitude and importance 
that of eighteen hundi'ed and twelve. (Cheers.) 

The following letter from J. C. Stickxey, Esq., previ- 
ously alluded to, was ttieu read by ]yIayor Usher : — 

Forest Place, Lynn, Nov. 30, 1867. 
To the Hon. Mayor and City Council of the City of Lynn : 

Gentlemen, — I have delayed till this morning to make a formal 
acknowledgment of your kind invitation requesting my presence at 
the dedication of the new City Hall, accompanied by a ticket of 
admission to the collation, with the hope of being able to accept 
it in full. 

It will, I have no doubt, be a joyous and interesting occasion to 
this whole community, — an occasion from which I anticipated great 
pei'sonal pleasui-e and satisfaction, but one which I am constrained to 
forego in consequence of the sudden and extreme illness of my only 
surviving parent. I regret that it must be so, but yield to the law 
of necessity and filial duty, and submit to the disappointment as Avell 
as I can. 

I had intended not only to be present with you at the interesting 
ceremonies of the occasion, but, upon your kind suggestion, to offer 
at the collation a few remarks on the Lynn of 1867 as compared with 
the Lynn of 1827, Avhen, as a young adventurer in the law, just 
admitted to the bar, I was attracted to your pleasant town by the 
natural beauties of the place, the free and independent, but social, 
manners and habits of the people, and, most of all, by that unremit- 
ting energy which even then had given to Lynn a local habitation and 
a name, and made it conspicuous as the " Beehive of Lidustry." 



96 THE CITY HALL. 

I thought T saw in all this the elements of a sure and rapid suc- 
cess, and the certainty that Lynn would one day become the leading 
city of Essex Covmty ; and, even at that early time, often ventured 
the prediction that within twenty years our good old tow ii would be- 
come a city with twenty thousand inhabitants. 

I intended further to glance at the rapid development of tlic ele- 
mentary principle of collective labor, which has made Lynn what she 
is to-day, and to do homage to that mighty power of human industry 
which lies at the base of all material prosperity and success, as illus- 
trated here by the long stride from the unpretentious shoemakers' 
shops, the " ten-footers " of 1827, to those massive and magnificent 
shoe-factories of the later day, — from the old Town House on the 
Common, with its bare beams and scraggy walls, to that great model 
of architectural beauty and gi'andeur, the new City Hall of Lynn, — a 
structure worthy of the palmiest days of ancient Greece and Rome. 
It is an honor, a glory, a triumph of art, which will enure to the 
benefit of Lynn forever, — a splendid monument to the noble spirit 
of our free community, and the refined and admirable taste of those 
who conceived and planned and completed it. 

Perhaps I speak warmly on the subject^ but my words are in 
unison with my sympathies and feelings. I have from the beginning 
taken a deep interest in its construction and finish, and from day to 
day have watched its progress from "base to pinnacle" with unal- 
loyed delight, — not, however, without a nervous fear that something 
might occur to mar its "fair proportions and matchless frame." 

No one can feel more proud of its faultless completion — its crown- 
ing glory — than myself. I can never forget how grand and beautiful 
it looked, when, casting aside its homely garb of boards and joists, it 
emerged into the clear sunlight of Heaven, and stood forth erect and 
chaste as Diana's self, — a thing of beauty and a joy forever. 

With the hope that our beloved city may go on forever with con- 
tinued industry and success, and may prove worthy of her higli 
destiny, 

I am, gentlemen, your respectful fellow-citizen. 

J. C. STICKNKY. 

Thomas C. Cummings, Esq., then addressed the audi- 
ence ; but his remarks were very imperfectly heard, 
owing to the music of the band in the outer hall. He 
said he could trace the prosperity of Tiynn, as we saw 



l;EREMONIES OF DEDKATlON. 97 

it to-day, culminating in the erection and dedication of 
this City Hall, to the constant virtue, indomitable en- 
ergy, industry and good government of the people and 
theii- officers, since the first settlement of the place. 
His Honor the Mayor and other speakers to-dav had 
spoken of John Adam Dagyr. He had himself been 
favored with an acquaintance with some of that worths 
man's descendants, some of whom are yet living, fine 
examples of that sterling worth he had spoken of. He 
went on to speak of the old Town Hall, and drew a 
comparison between it and the present structure ; and 
concluded by an apt poetical quotation referring to the 
Pilgrim Fathers, to whose principles we are so largely 
indebted for our prosperity and success. 

The next speaker introduced by the Mayor was James 
X. BuFFUM, Esq., who said : — 

Mr. Maijnr. — I did lutt tliink tiny man would have the impru- 
dence to ("ill upon me for ;i r^pccch to-day. so I have not got a speech 
in my pocket, neither have 1 one in my head : for, since T have h'stened 
to so mucli eloquence durin^j: the day, all the talk I might have had in 
the beginning is entirely gone. (Laughter.) As I stand before yon 
to-day, I feel like one of the past generation, whose labors have de- 
.sccnded unto the children. Let me state that, in the beoinnino- ] 
felt that the city of Lynn was not quite prepared to build a City Hall 
of such magnificent dimensions as this. I entered niv protest against 
it at tlie time, thinking it might have some effect : but when the 
corner-ston(> was laid, and the whole scheme prepared, I then willino-lv 
said to the Mayor, who asked my opinion. " Go ahead, build it and 
finish it." The Mayor also asked me another question, which 1 
answered : and as no one has alluded to thnt point. T will say one 
word upon it. Having had some experience in my early days as a 
builder. I tohi him 1 thought I knew one person in Lynn whom it 
would l)e liighly desirable to employ, to attend to the work and see it 
properly executed. I allude to our fellow-townsman. Mr. J. W. 
Tewksbury. ( Applause. ) 
14 



98 THE CITY MALL. 

[The Mayor here proposed three cheers for Mr. 
lewksbury, which were heartily given.] 

I do not inti'iid, sir, tliat iiny position i took in the l)(^ji,i lining- shall 
now (li'privc nu' of tlu' pleasnre 1 (lerivt' from contcniplatinj)^ this 
heautifiil building, uor of the privilege of praising it in the manner 
it <leserves. I said that Mr. Tewksbui'v would perform the work to 
the perfect satisfaction of every one. I might lie allowed to be a 
tolerable judge of such matters, foi- 1 am pioud to say that I M'as 
once a carpenter myself. And by the way, my i'riend, Mr. Alley, 
has euh:)gized the shoemakers, and we all know that many good and 
great men have risen from their ranks. We all recognize Mr. Alley 
himself as a striking and noV)le illustration of this (applause) ; but 
for my side of the question, let us not forget that one who was reputed 
to be more than man is said to have been a carpenter. I am proud as 
I stand here to be able to say that I belong to the honoi-able fraternity 
of carpentei's. (Applause.) 

So, sir, I cannot claim to have done anything to lay the corner- 
stone or to erect or finish the walls of this building, yet I can do as 
the country sexton did, when his minister^ had delivered a very elo- 
quent discotirse, which was greatly praised. The sexton was anxious 
to get his share of the applause, and, having no other claim, he said, 
"Well — I rung the bell!" And if I did nothing to build the City 
Hall, 1 will say this, that 1 reconmiended the carpenter. (Applause.) 

There are people, Mr. Mayor, who say that in building this Hall 
uf have ''got an elephant." It may be so, but at any rale he is a 
good looking one. I do not know about it. but I have done my piirt 
of the scolding on this subject in times past. 1 am not going to scold 
any more. T will not be so foolish as the tailor in the story, who 
pricked the tnnd< of an ele|)hant who came to his window, and got 
drenched with dirty water for his pains. And so, if I did nothing to 
l)uild the Hall, I will not be debarriMl from i)raising it. I have gone 
all over it, have examined every |)art, and 1 cannot lind a wrong- 
mitre or a false joint. Nothing is here but the best workmanship, 
i-edounding richly to the credit of all couci'med. I \\n\v no adverse 
(•riticism to offer, not a word. (Applause.) 

I wish I could borrow some of the elocpience 1 ha\e heard here 
to-day, that I might describe Lynn as it was wdien I first came here. 
Mr. Alley says he was born here in 1817, but I cannot go back so 
far. I did not come here till 1824. Then 1 Ixiarded in a little house 
nearly under High Rock. And, l»y the way. High Rock is a "great 



rEIlEMOMES OF DEDICATION. 99 

iustitutioiu" and I would liavf you understand tTiat I own it still, 
notwithstanding tin- Ilutcliinson Family. Fligli Rock and tliis Citv 
HaTl ari! tlie two ii'n'Htc.st tliinus we liavr. I rcnicniber once when 
crossing tlie Atlantic, a iicntlcnian told me that of all the sights in 
America he desired to see two alio\e all. — Niagara Falls and l)r 
Chaniiiug. And so with liVini. Whoevei- comes here in i'ntnic will 
inquire for just two things, — High Rock and the Citv Hall. But 
not to wander too uiuch. when I came here Lviui had oidv five 
thousand inhabitants, and was a ••little one-horse town" sure enough. 
The men of Sulem boasted that they owned Lyim. and that it was ail 
covered over with their mortgages. I said to them. "• Perhaps you 
do, but if you own us now. we will own you by and bv, or be equal 
with you, at any rate." Lynu has gone on with increasing energv 
and perseverance since that time, and now we hear very little about 
those mortgages. (Applause.) Although tvvf) towns have been cut 
off from Lynn, w^e have between twaMity-tive and thii-tv thousand in- 
haV)itants left, and some considerable monev. 

I remember ouee. at one of the old town meetings, Jonathan 
Bacheller, in some remarks, said hi- did not believe in the principle 
of towns and cities being in debt any more than individuals, and he 
therefox-e moved that the siun of thirteen thousand dollars be raised 
to pay off the towai debt and for other necessary expenses. People 
cried out with indignation. One old gentleman said he should have 
to sell his farm to pay Ihe taxes, if this were (h)ne. Well, to-day we 
raise from two lo thn-e hundred thousand dollars i'l^v current expenses, 
and that. too. without nnich grund)liiig. We ha\e grown so fast in 
wealth atid popidation that we may well be surj)ris<'d onrseKes. We 
cannot indeed realize our rapid progi'ess. till we go out bevond the 
boundaries of our own city, anil look al what the nation has achiexcd. 
by enterprises in which Lynn has had her full sluire. 

We have abolished slaxcry. — a work which, some vears ago. 
Henry Clay said would cost twelve liiiudred millions of dollars, a stmi 
so enormous, in that gentleman's estimation, that it was foolish to 
think of raising it, — and we have not only abolished slaverv. but 
have put down one of the most gigantic rebellions, gotten u|) in the 
interest of slavery, that this world evei- saw. though it cost to do it. 
not twelve huiidred. but three thousand millions of dollars, and to-dav 
America stands ledeemed. regenerated and disenthi-alled I (Loud 
applause.) What if we are rather heavily taxed, and have to strug- 
gle hard to pay this debt? We have a comitry worth working for. 
Much as we have done, we very iiupei-fectiv apprehend our duty and 



iOO THE ClTl HALL, 

destiny if we suppose we are to stop where we are, Tliere is greaf 
and noble work remaining for us to do. The perfect equality of the 
human race is to be achieved. This is the great work begun by our 
fathers, and that which we. their children^ intend to consunuuatc. 

The hour being now far advanced, the exercises in 
the Council Chamber were here ended, and the people 
generally separated for their homes. But the festivities 
were again resumed in 

THE EVENIN(i. 

At seven o'clock, P.M., the doors, which had been 
temporarily closed, were again thrown open to receive 
a vast company of both sexes and almost every age. 
The entire building was lighted to the full extent, and 
the appearance of the multitude in their high enjoy- 
ment under the brilliant lamps was beautiful in the 
extreme. The crowd was probaMy much greater than 
that during the day ; and, not being kept in place as 
listeners, they quietly moved from room to room in a 
constant current, giving an appearance of animation 
and gayety hnrd to describe, 'llie band were present, 
enlivening the whole with theiu best harmonies. After 
about an hour, during Avhich the l)uilding had been 
examined and sciiitinized with the most eager curiosity 
and interest by all grades and classes of citizens, His 
Honor Mayor Usher appeared on the landing of the 
main staircase, and, calling the assembly to order, intro- 
duced to them (teorge H. ('hase. Esq.. Avho spoke as 
follows : — 

Mr. Mayor diid FeUoio-Citizims, — 1 am aware <jf the ilithculty of 
talking here to-night, and ask your sympathy for vari(jus reasons ; I 
ask it particularly because the iield has been so well harxested already : 
the admirable speecli of the Mayor, and the wonderfully appropriati' 
poem which you heard tliis moruing, have really left me hut little to 
say. Hut I an) hii})i)y. nntwitlistaiiding the jidxerst- circuinstanccs 



I'EREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 101 

under which I speak, to add my word of congratulation to the peoplt'. 
and with the peoph> of" Lynn, upon the completion of this Hall, and 
upon its admirable adaptation to the purposes for whicli it has been 
built. It has been said by many men fi-om the gi-eat cities of the 
Union, that this Hall, considering its excellent adaptation to the ends 
in view, the beauty of its ai'chitecture, and the excellence of its gen- 
eral design and arrangements, is the best building they have yet seen. 
Of course the people of Lynn uatui-ally feel a great deal of satisfac- 
tion on this account, and more especially because Lynn in the past 
has not been noted for the beauty of its architecture. All the citizens 
ought to mingle their mutual congratuhitions on the success whicli 
has attended this great munici})al enterprise. 

Let us here first give credit to those who j)ersisteully urged its 
necessity, and to the councils and committees of different years, who 
aided in realizing their ideas ; next to tiie architects who gave us the 
magnificent plans, and last to the committee of tiie City Council of 
the present year, and His Honor the Mayor, for the splendid and 
energetic manuei' in which the whole lias f)een accomplished. 

Fellow-citizens, our friends of neighboring or larger cities may 
complacently smile, and say that the people of Lynn are over-pleased 
with this new Hall. Well, we can attbrd to let them, for we have 
now got something which we have a right to be pleased with, and the 
people of Lynn, by their magnificent turn-out to-day, prove that they 
know how to appreciate it. (Cheers.) In New England the Town 
Hall has ever been a marked feature, and has almost been considered 
a sacred institution, for in tliose towns and villages where there has 
f)een no Town Hall, the church has generally been used by the people 
for the ti'ansaction of the public business. When a town, however. 
gets so large as ouis did, that it is necessary for the people to delegate 
tiieir ))owers to i-epi'esentatives, then a city government becomes » 
necessity. The ancient (Tuildhalls in England served two piu'poses. 
In the first place, they were dedicated to certain trades or guilds ; 
and secondly, to the use of the town corporation. This is our Guild- 
hall, and may be considered, in view of the trade to which the people 
of Lynn are almost entirely devoted, the Guildhall of tlie shoe trade, 
and of the ancient and honorable guild of leather. It is right that 
the people should, in some degree, consider this building as a creation 
of the shoe trade, whicli employs so much of the energy of the city. 
I am not aware that anywhere in this country, if in the world, can 
there be found so large a comnmnity as this devoted so entirely to 
one branch of business, cai'ried on by personal enterprise and private 



102 TKi: (crv if.vLi,. 

(•;il)ilal. 'I'lic nhsi'uee of corpoi'aliv »• opci-atioiis. wliicli so distin<;'uisli 
most mainifiictnriTi<j plat-es, is the secrel of our jj;eueral prosperity, 
and has ffiven to Lynn « distinctive character. We may in some 
dejjree consider tliis Hall as sacred to St. Crispin, tin- patron or tute- 
lary saint of the shoemakers. Lej>endary history tell us that Crispin 
and Crispinian were of jj;;ood and noble hirth ; tht' craft was called 
the "gentle craft of leather ; " the amnnil festive day was an oc<'asion 
of great merry-making and disj)lay. 

We shoidd not undertake to dedicate this llall without remembering 
how nnu'li leather has had to do with its erection. The mechanics 
may not have known that they were working it ; Messrs. Bryant and 
Gilman did not mention it in their specifications, but without it this 
Hall would never have risen, and tlie old lapstone of our shoemakers 
is the real corner or foundation stone. We should remember here 
how largely we are indebted to those pioneers of the trade in times 
past, owing to whose exertions the trade of Lynn has gradually crept 
up to its present gigantic proportions. We ought to remember the 
difficulties of doing business in the olden times, — the want of means 
of transportation and of communication Avith the rest of the world. 
If we were to contrast the scattered little shoemakers' shops, which 
then formed so marked a feature in oni- landscape, with the great 
and noble manufactories which the steam engines and the wonderful 
machinery of modern times have brought into existence, we could 
hardly believe that the old town was the pai-eiit of our ))r('siMit great 
and prosperous city. In the days of our fatlu-rs a gi-iiidstone was 
about all the machineiy to be found in a shoe mainifactin-y. The 
nimble and wonderful little sewing-machine now does the work wlii<li 
in old times made "Lynn shoe-binders" of most of the girls in the 
country miles around, and that monstrous but nuignificent innovator, 
the "McKay Machine." has attracted hither a nndtitude of journey- 
men. These machines and many others are " strange gods brought 
into the city," but they have swelled the amount of our industry to 
an enormous degree. It was the men of the old times, however, who 
laid a sure foundation for the prosperity of Lynn. But probably all 
of the change has not been f(n- the better. We should not permit the 
old shoemaker's shop to pass out of sight and memory without record- 
ing that it was a nursery of intelligence. Amid the whirl and noise 
of machinery information cannot now, as then, l)e comnumicated. 
Then, by common consent, all the hammering was done at one time, 
so that the reader of political or other news or information might 
have full sway, and all might hear. 



CEREMONIKS OF I)E!)I( ATION. 10'^ 

Fellow-citi/AMi.-;, tor so large a plact- tlic shape aiul t'ornnitioii o< our 
<'ity is extraonliiiarv. ami ineoiueiiieiit in some respects. It is built 
<'hiefly upon a louj^- reacli of land, between the hills and the sea. Our 
fathers did not huddle down lojrether. The Ingalls and the ^Voods 
settled at Woodeiid, and it is '• Woodend" to this day; tlu' Breeds 
made their iiome at the; west end, and thus we have " Breeilsi-nd ; " 
the Xewhalls settled on lioston Street, and have industriously multi- 
plied and scattered all abt)ut, eidarging the directory and making a 
good family record ; otlu'rs w'ent to 8hepard Street, Sagamore Hill, 
and Gravesend. Now it is fair to suppose that these sturdy Puritan 
ancestors of ours, in settling thus two hundred and thirty years ago, 
did so without regard to the " ilijxit (fiiailiaii." hut in this may have 
originated some of our local difficulties. Owing to the shape of Lynn, 
we undoubtedly lose many advantages which would accrue to a more 
compact city. Let us consider this magnificent Hall of (uirs an ex- 
ample of what can be done if we will put away, as far as possible, all 
small local and neighborhood jealousies. 

There is a class of buildings recently erected in Lymi, and this is 
the most notable example, which seem to indicate that the moving 
era is passing away. Quite a large number of persons made moving 
buildings a business ; certain buildings had a well established char- 
acter for itineracy, and during the last four years buildings passed 
about the streets about as often, if not as regularly, as the horse cars. 
I congratulate the people that it would pu/./.le excn ^Ir. Lloyd to 
move their City Hall. 

Those who were not present in the morning missed a noble and 
gviitifying spectacle. Seated around the gallery were more than one 
hunilred of our old men, — all more than three score and ten. Many 
of tiieni had performed long iUid faithful ser\ ice in the old town gov- 
ernment. Thi're was a fine representation of the ohl moderators, — 
some. ^L". flavor, who have been severely tasked to conti-ol in town 
inei'ting the vonthfnl political impulses of sonu' who hold high places 
in the Hall which we have dedicated to-day. I wt)uld name as n]i- 
resentatives of the old men who have done Lynn good service, and 
who to-day receive our respect and gratitude, Hon. Stephen Oliver 
and Benjamin ^Nludge, Esq. I will not undertake to say how long 
they have been intimately connected with the history of Lynn. Many, 
too, are gone, who have been contemporary with us. I recall the 
pleasant conntenance of the old Town Clerk, who for eighteen years 
served us so well, and who. within a year following those who ha<l 
gone before, passed away amitl exjjressions of sincere love an<l re- 



104 



THE CIT^ HALL. 



spec't. Well will it be for us, fellow-citizens, if the men who occupy 
these municipal chambers in the future shall do as well as did the 
men who are represented by those to whom I have just referred. 

May this beautiful Hall somewhat influence our best men to accept 
places here in the service of the people, and the business in all the 
departments be done wisely and well. May all the reasonable re- 
([uests whicli may come from the chamber on the right, assigned to 
the School C'ommittee, be heeded by the City Council, and may the 
library, assigned to the nobk^ apartments on the left, receive liberal 
aid from the government and the citizens. Thus will something be 
done to cause the intelligence of Lynn to keep ])ace with its material 
enterprise and progress. 

It will not be just, fellow-citizens, tnther to myself or to you, to 
contimie these i-emarks further, under the present circumstances. I 
will only, in closing, refer to those town organizations whose territory 
was formerly a part of Lynn. Lynnfield and Saugus, long since by 
tlicuisclves. and Swampscott and Nahant, those peerless jewels of our 
coast, who have but lately gone away from home, — niay they be 
successful in all their undertakings, and share in all our success, and 
may this whole community- taking courage from the congratulations 
of this (lay, go on to general prosperity and happiness. 



The flavor then introduced Charles E. Kimball, Esq.. 
who addressed the assembly substantially as follows : — 

Mr. Mayor aiid Fellow-Citizens, — There is something peculiarly 
appropi'iate in our assembling this evening for mutual congratula- 
tions. Standing under this magnificent dome, amid the beauties that 
surround us, if there arise feelings of self-satisfaction, if the heart's 
pulsations beat quicker, and the emotions of our nature are stirred, it 
may be pardoned, or carried to the account of the occasion that calls 
us together. 

Some writer has said, "The characteristics of every age and pt'o- 
ple are emblazoned in their public edifices. The handiwork of the 
artizaTi bears some visible evidence of its creator, something of his 
individuality is stamped thereon, undefinable, nevertheless linking him 
to his creation. The history of every age has been written in stone, 
as well as poetry and song." 

How much of the social, political and religious life of aiitiijuity 
has been unfolded through their pid)lic buildings. Ninev»'h. which 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 105 

has slumbori'd in its toinhs tor ceiitiiries, over whom the sands of the 
♦lesert for two thousand years have swept, thus unbosoms herself to 
Layard and Clianipollion. who have coinmuuioated to us mysteries so 
loniT vi'iU'd. 

Her pul)lie struct iin's wen- the visihU- manifestations of the civil- 
ization of tliat aiif. the eniliodinu'nt of tiie ideas of that era. The 
stnielure we have to-day dedicated to municipal purj)oses as clearly 
dehnes our proj^ressive ideas, tastes, and i-espect for ffovernment. 
(xrand and beautiful as are the architectural proportions, and elaborate 
the embellishments of this building, it becomes insigniticant when 
contrasted with the idea it symbolizes. We are here to-night because 
Lynn has fostered, honored and dignified labor, — labor that has 
interlaced our continent with a network of iron bands ; that has 
harnessed steam, and sent its messengers whirling through the valleys, 
winding around the mountains and coursing over the prairies ; that 
.has trenched our canals, and poured into our laps the wealth of dis- 
tant states ; that has studded our seas with sails, and brought us the 
products of universal climes ; that has ethei-ealized thought and sent 
it forth on wings of lightning ; that has reared our mills and made 
them vocal with its song ; that has bored into the mountains and 
embowelled the earth, bringing forth their treasures for mankind. 

Labor in the vineyard of Thought has laid its products at the foot 
t»f the Press, and Science. Philosophy. History, Knowledge, lie at the 
doorway of men. 

It laid the foundation of this city more than two hundred years 
ago, and with each axhancing year it has b>iilde<l thereon, enlarging 
its resources and capabilities, — from the forest to a settlement, from 
a settlement to a town, from thence to a city, mitil this beautiful and 
capacious structure is demanded to meet its growing wants. 

The labor of toiling brain conceived and elaborated the designs 
and wrought out in the mind's eye each piece of this vast building: 
it laid its foundation, reared its walls and crowned the spire, and 
looking into the face of coming years is to pay its cost. 

Within the counting-room and office, in the shop and on the seat, 
all can rejoice to-day, for it is the hour of the coronation of labor. 
Hard handed, honest toilers, and men who spend days and nights o^'er 
their ledgers, may here behold what their industry has wrought. It 
is true other ages and peoples have reared buildings more massive 
and extensive tlian this : Rome had its Pantheon and Coliseum, mas- 
terpieces of human toil and endurance, but it was the toil of serfdom ; 
they W(>re the production of a population one-half of whom were 



106 THE C'lTY HAl.L. 

.slaves, and the larger portion of" the remainder pensioned on the 
public charity ; — while within onr vast domain no man to-day raises 
his manacled hands to the throne on liijj^h, no mnffled heart beats to 
the sorrowtiil tread of oppression. 

This building is the clieerful oft'ei'ing ot" tree labor to government. 
Dedicated to this purpose, as it has been, we will not forget the source 
of oiii" prosperity as a people, and, profiting by the suggestions the 
<iccasion unfolds, let us continue to honor and encourage labor. There 
is no place in our Commonwealth where labor is more honored than 
in Lynn, and it is to be hoped that that industrious spirit which has 
made us what we are, will ever continue to animate us, and we shall 
find that the beauty and grandeur of this magnificent temple will be 
as nothing in comparison with the moral beauty which shall flow in 
the future from an intelligent, industrious and virtuous (iommunity. 
(L(nid applause.) 

Mayor Usher said, " I will now introduce to you. 
fellow-citizens, an old resident among you, and a lineal 
descendant of the first white child horn in Lynn. You 
will he glad to listen to the lion. Thomas B. Newhall." 

Mr. Newhall laid aside his overcoat and said : — 

1 take ofi' my coat, but 1 hope you will not take that as an indica- 
tion of any extended remarks from me. I think the citizens of Lynn 
have had spe(>ches enough to-day, and therefore my observations will 
be exceedingly brief. I avail myself of the opportunity you luive 
given me, Mr. Mayor, to say a good word for the family I represent, 
and to add my fehcitation upon the completion of this edifice. I am 
glad to see so many people here to-day, for Lyim has a right to 
i-ejoice on this occasion. For a long time previous to the calamity 
which created such a sensation and made the erection of this Hall a 
necessity, Lynn had been afflicted with a building so unfit for the 
purposes of public business that it had become a disgrace to the city ; 
and so unsuitable was it in point of architectural proportions and 
Hnish, in insufficiency of room, that all felt that the time had arrived 
— although the (circumstances of the country were adverse to the 
undertaking of any large or extensive enterprise — when the public 
character and reputation of the city demanded that a new^ City Hall 
should be built. It cannot, however, be denied that when the very 
large expenditures contemplated for that purpose were made public. 



CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 10 • 

many of our more conservativ.' citizens n-garded the cost with feel- 
ings of great apprehension. I am ahnost ready to confess that 1 
myself was one of that numher, hut I am happy to say now that 
I believe those apprehensions have given way to feelings of a far 
<lit^erent character. There is no doubt that we are all interested in 
whatever tends to pi-omote education, or to increase in any manner 
the facilities for transacting public business, or to improve the char- 
acter of the city, and I think the building we have now answers these 
purposes. I ("ongratulate you, Mr. Mayor, and your associates and 
predecessors, on the good taste and public spirit which has given us 
a building so beautiful both in design and finish. I repeat that we 
ought to have such a building. Look at the history of Lynn from the 
earliest period, and it has been, through the providence of God, a 
history of progress in whatever helps to make men happy, — an m- 
crease in weahh, population, in the comforts of home, in th(- educa- 
tion of the rising generation, and in respect and love for the Christian 
religion. Why should we not, then, as far as in us lies, aid in im- 
proving the character of the city and the tone and sentiment of the 
people ? Look at our surroundings, with the beautiful hills and forests 
on the one side and the magnificent ocean on the other, and it is due. 
[ think, to our character that we should add something to the natural 
beauties of our scenery by art or by architecture, or however else we 
may. This is not an occasion to discuss the question of the beneficent 
infiuences of the higher styles of architecture, in public and private 
buildinirs. on the community in which they are placed. It is, 1 be- 
lieve, the concurrent testimony of all observers that the influence is 
large, and I am very happy, Mr. Mayor, that the present building 
will att'or.l us an opportimity of practically testing the value of that 
influence. I will not. however, extend my remarks further, but inas- 
unu-h, sir, as you have alluded to me as a member of one of the most 
mnnerous families of Lynn, — you might have said, I think, the most 
uumerous family, — ! will take occasion to say a word or two on that 
subject. A friend of mine this morning sai<l that although pride was 
not one of his weaknesses, yet he was proud of being a shoemaker. 
I do not think that pride is one of my weaknesses, and yet T will say 1 
am proud of my pedigree. I am proud of being the desc.Midant of the 
first white child born upon the territory of our town. And I thmk. 
sir, among the very good things done for the city of L)nm, the mother 
of that child did the very best thing. (Applause.) This famdy is 
not only numerous, but 1 think I may say, without ostentation at all. 
it is of the highest respectability and character. Tt has a record which 



108 THE CITY HALL. 

is coeval with the liistory of Lymi, and throughout tliat period it lias 
been most closely identified with the public and private business of 
the city. It is a source of the hiiihest satisi'a(;tion, I doubt not. to all 
the members of that family, to look back upon their honorable progeni- 
tors, and to look forward, also, in anticipation, and see their descend- 
ants, "bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh," meeting together, 
generation after generation, to aid in the transaction of the public 
business, and bringing to it, I trust, on each successive occasion, a 
stronger determination and a higher capacity to ])romotc the public 
interest and advance the prosperity of our (uty. (Ap])lause.) 

The Mayor here proceeded to read a number of let- 
ters, received in response to invitations given to attend 
the exercises of dedication. Among them were the 
friendly and polite replies of Hon. Otis Norcross, Mayor 
of Boston ; Hon. William Cogswell, Mayor of Salem ; 
Hon. Eben F. Stone, Mayor of Newburyport, and Hon. 
N. H. P. Melvin, Mayor of Lawrence. Also a letter 
from Oliver A. Mudge, Ksq., formerly of Lynn, but 
now of New London, Conn. The Mayors of various 
other cities responded in the most agreeable manner. 

After the speaking was ended, a Quartette Club, 
consisting of Messrs. Charles E. Fairbanks and Edward 
Butler, with Misses Kate B. Plummer and M. E. 
Bartlett, from the choir of the Central Church, took 
possession of the landing, where a piano had been 
previously placed. Prof. J. Young })resided at the 
instrument, and the quartette gave a series of fine vocal 
performances during the residue of the evening, much 
to the gratification of the peo])lc. Among these exer- 
cises, Mr. John H. Bubier sung the hymn entitled "The 
Omnipresent God," in a very impressive manner. Suf- 
ficient quiet could hardly be obtained, however, for the 
proper effect of the performance. 

After the singing terminated, a further space was 
taken for promenade and conversation. Some of the 



(CEREMONIES OF DEDICATION. 



109 



citizens organi/od an impromptu meeting in the (onn- 
cil C'hamber, where J. N. IkifFum, Jiimes W. Ingalls. 
Esqs., and others, made remarks, some of rliem highly 
humorous and amusing. 

About ten o'clock, ]\ M.. at the call of tlu^ MaAor. 
the whole assembly joined in singing '• .Vmericii." anrl 
afterwards the doxology. to •• Old Hundred." with Hue 
effect. Mayor Usher then said : — 

Friliiir-Oiiizeas, — Wc liavo now liiiisliiMl. and I may say \\«'ll lin- 
islii'd, the work we undertook to do this day. In hehalf of the ('it\ 
(government, h>t me tender you the thanks of the city for your attend- 
anee here to-day, and for the spii-it of kind ap|)reeiation and appi-o- 
bation you liave shown for the work of those who have had the duty 
of erectiiii; this edifice. It is now approaching the hours of the Sab- 
bath. I trust that you all may profitably eujoy tlie rest which it will 
bring, and that that rest may be found all the more pleasant on account 
of the exercises you have listened to this day\ With these gratifying 
thoughts, ladies and gentlemen, allow nie to bid yon a very kind good 
night. 

The assembly dispersed in the most quiet manner, 
and the Hall was em]:)ty and closed by half-past ten 
o'clock. Nothing had occurred from first to last to mai- 
the pleasure of the occasion. The weight of the im- 
mense crowd in the gallery of the Staircase Hall had. 
as was afterward found, caused the breaking of some 
small stucco ornaments on the capitals of one or two 
of the columns ; but no other injury to the building 
was discovered in any part. The Dedication had proved 
altogether successful ; "a red-letter day," as the Weeklj/ 
Reporter expressed it, in the history and calendar of 
1 iVnn. 



DKS( KIPTION OF THE BUILDINO 



DESCRIPTEON OF THE BUILDING. 



At this point it is proper to take a litth- .space tor the bettt'i- poi- 
traiture and description of the building which is the special subject 
of this work, and which was dedicated to municipal uses with the 
signal lionors that have been recounted. It has been freciuc^itly re- 
marked, and may be probably taken as true, that no other l)uildin<> 
devoted to similar purposes, within our State and outside of Boston. 
is comparable to this in beauty of design and exe(-ution. Indeed, 
thei-e are not many of its class in our country that rank above it, 
and these will only be found in the most important cities. It is 
gratifying to be able to add, that as a public possession it has given 
evident pleasure to a majority of our citizens, and though its «'ost was 
large, its loss w^ould be deploretl I'oi- reasons tar deeper than can be 
estimated in money. 

The central, open and unobstructed character of the site, so judi- 
ciously selected by the city government of 1863, certainly presented 
an opportunity for the favorable display of a public building of the 
highest architectural character. The view of the front, as seen in 
looking up from Market Street, presents the lines and masses of the 
principal facade, at the best possible angle of perspective, for fine 
effect, from our leading public thoroughfare. The view obtained from 
the Common and Park Square, in coming down in the opposite direc- 
tion, is also quite as favorable as could have been desired, particidarly 
in the season when the fine tower, rising above tlie thrifty trees ot 
that well-kept enclosure, reveals that union of the lines of the archi- 
tecture with the masses of foliage beneath, which is always most 
attractive to the educated eye. The wide space, too. whicii has been 
secured on the east side, by the judicious location of the building with 
respect to its distance from Essex Street, and the ample depth of the 
balance of the enclosure in the rear, on Johnson Street, combine to 
give the new building every advantage of location that a prudent 
foresight could have claimed for it. In all tlie important requisites 
of light, air. and free and unimpeded space for view on all sides, ii 
IH 



114 THE CITY HALL. 

would hv, difficult to secure any additional advantages, in respect 
iMflier of convenience, pleasantness, or dignified and imposing effect. 

ri)on the thoroughly appropriate site thus placed at their disposal, 
the committee of our city government, and their architects, Messrs. 
Gridley J. F, Bryant and Arthur Gilman, have erected a structure 
of which our citizens may w^ell be proud, and which will stand as a 
memorial of the advancement of architectural art and taste in our 
comnuuiity through long coming years. We feel that we do not claim 
more for our new Hall than has been almost universally conceded 
during the period of its erection, by all persons of observation and 
taste, when we record the conviction that it is a pre-eminently attrac- 
tive and beautiful building, — a building which, besides providing 
for the due and convenient accommodation of all the various branches 
of the city government, possesses the highest claims, as a successful 
work of art, upon the favorable regard of all our citizens. 

The peculiar style chosen for the design by the architects is that 
known as the Italian Renaissant, a style which may be said to adapt 
itself so naturally to the obvious requirements of the more dignified 
ininiicipal structures of our day, as to appear almost to have grown 
out <jf tliem, and to have been influenced in its growth by considera- 
tions of fitness and utility alone. Derived originally from Italian 
sources, and from the works of the great masters of Italian art, more 
particularly from the style of the later edifices of the Venetian Repub- 
lic, it has now been very successfully naturalized in the public struc- 
tures of other c(^untries, with more or less of changes and modifica- 
tions, for the last tliree hundred years. It will be observed that it 
relies mainly on liie ornamental treatment of those essential features, 
the door and window openings, the lines of roofs, and the marked 
separation of the various stories on the exterior, for its architectural 
effect. In this characteristic consists its adaptability and its harmo- 
nious (tonnuon-sense effect. In fact, it will be found on any careful 
consideration of the subject, that in almost all the structures which 
are required by the present uses of socnety, this ornament of the open- 
ings, and other marked constructional features, fi)rm, of necessity, the 
leading characteristics of any correct design. This decoration of 
utility must be relied on as the most obvious mode of architectural 
expression, and the chief vehicle of whatever of ornament is projjerly 
to be introduced. The essential requirements of a structure, light 
and air, are perfectly apparent to every one, and the designs of our 
architects can only bt- said to be truly ajjpropriatc and beautiful, in 
proportion as tliev are found to provide for those reijuirements with 



DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING. 



115 



sense and spirit. The real designer must take these practically ust-ful 
features as the key-note of his composition, and nnist set himself 
studiously to reconcile their real and practical utility with the iiighest 
deo-ree of artistic elegance which each occasion, as it arises, will 
properly allow. 

In the present instance, this Renaissaut style, from the great 
variety of outline which it admits of, and the multiplicity of parts 
required, will be found to be one admirably suited to the wants and 
uses of a great public building. Particularly is this the case, when 
we consider the numerous windows and other openings required for 
the varied purposes of the interior. And the great size of the mass 
of the building, when compared with the dimensions of the other 
structures in its vicinity, demands, in addition to the other requisites 
we have mentioned, somewhat of a dignified and imposing character, 
stamping it as a public building, — a character, too, which the com- 
binations of this style, when naturally and unaffectedly treated, are 
peculiarly well calculated to bestow. So well have all these require- 
ments been met and carried out by the architects of our new City 
Hall, that we believe their design will be found fully expressive, both 
in its outline and general appearance, as well as in the details of all 
its separate parts, of the dignified uses for which it is intended ; and 
we have as little reason to doubt that the pu])lic in general will have 
good reason to be satisfied with it, through the coming years of the 
gi'owth and prosperity of our city, as a permanent ornament to the 
imposing locality in which it has been so wisely placed. 

The materials used in the erection of this building are pressed brick, 
of the best quality and description, for the exterior walls, with the 
basement, entablatures, string-courses, window-dressings, and other 
architectural details of the exterior, of Connecticut brown freestone. 

The front consists externally of a centre, with two slightly pro- 
jecting wings, connected with the centre in their leading lines, but 
separated in effect by the lofty central tower, the lower story of which 
forms, in connection with the portico outside and around three sides 
of the body of the tower, the principal entrance to the building. The 
introduction of so marked a feature as this tower, and the steeple by 
which it is surmounted, may be said to confer a peculiar and dis- 
tinctive character upon the building, — assimilating it in effect, as 
remarked by the architects in their original report on the subject, to 
those well-known and widely recognized Town Halls of the old com- 
mercial cities of Europe, which have always served as the most 
admired models of this particular class of public structures. 



116 THE CITi' HALL. 

Tlif lot on whicli the uew Hall is ])lace(l covers an area of 77,895 
feet. An elegant iron fence, resting on a lianimered granite base, 
surronnds it on the three principal sides, with handsome and appro- 
priate gates |)laced in the centre of the ))rincij)al front, and an entrance 
also, for foot passengers only, at the reai- angle of Johnson and Essex 
Streets. (Jrauite gateways, similar to that in the centre, connnnni- 
(■ate across the western part of the enclosure from front to rear. 
This fence comports with the general arcliitectural character of the 
l)nilding. 

The exterior walls are backed with the best hard-burned brick 
throughout, vaulted between the backing and the pressed facings. 
With very few and insignificant exceptions, all the interior partitions 
are also of brick, laid and bonded in tlu^ best and most thorough 
manner. 

The interior finish of the first or entrance story is of oak, butter- 
nut and ash woods. The finish of the other stories is principally of 
ash, Avith the exception of the Mayor and Aldermen's Room and 
Council Chamber, which are finished in white pine, and tasetfully 
painted in parti-colors. 

The grand entrance is from the Park Square front and up the 
wide extei-ior flight of stone steps into the Staircase Hall, which 
measures 42 by 54 feet, and is paved with squares of black and white 
marble. Directly opposite is the grand staircase, nine feet in width, 
which gives access to the principal rooms of the second floor, and 
which, in its plan and details, is perhaps the most striking and effec- 
tive feature of the whole interior. Built throughout of solid and 
handsome American oak, the ornamental face-stringers, newels, rails 
and balusters, are designed and executed with the utmost care, and 
a view of them is alone sufficient to repay a visit to the building. 
The (continuous gallery which forms the landing in the principal story 
is carried on eight scagliola columns, with corresponding pilasters of 
the full Corinthian order, the ceiling overhead being deeply panneled 
and run with coffered mouldings. The central flight of stairs starts 
from the centre of the hall, opposite the principal entrance, and, after 
rising eighteen steps, diverges into two separate flights, to the right 
and left, to the galleries above. Abundantly lighted from overhead, 
by handsome panneled skylight openings of ample size, the effect of 
this staircase is certainly such as to justify the highest expectations as 
to its spaciousness and beauty. 

In the wall back of the first lauding, and directly facing the visitui- 
as he ascends, is the memorial tablet described on p. 79. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE HTILDING. 117 

With regani tu tin- arranfri'iiu'iit of the oHiccs on the principal 
Hoor, and which are entered directly from the main hall, it will he 
observed that it has been made a particular point to provide for those 
which, from the nature of their occupancy, are liable to have the 
greatest number of people iu daily attendance upon them. On 
the right of the hall is the office of the City Clerk, 241 by 2G feet, 
with a private room attached, 9 by 12^^ feet, and provided with a 
spacious fire-proof safe, 10 by 11 feet in area and 9 feet in height, 
with a second fire-proof apartment over it. No expense has been 
spared in the construction of this safe, with solid l)rick walls enclosing 
a heavy iron cage, so as to render it a fitting depository for all the 
valuable archives of the city. In immediate communication with the 
City Clerk's room, and entered also from the hall, is another fine 
apartment, 18f by 21 feet, intended for the Mayor's business room. 
This also accommodates the Overseers of the Poor. It opens in turn 
into the office of the Treasurer, 24 by 2() feet, also provided with a 
private room of 12 by 16 feet, and a fire-proof safe 5 by 9 feet. 
Through a lobby at the rear of the Staircase Hall, admittance is 
given to the Assessors' Room, 19^ by 24 j feet, also provided with a 
fire-proof safe, of the same size as that in the Treasurer's Room. 
On the other side of the staircase is placed the entrance to the office 
of the Judge of Police Court, 21^ by 27A feet. The large front room 
on the left of the entrance is finely furnished as a Reception Room 
of 24 by 26 feet. The remainder of the space on this floor is assigned 
as follows : To the Clerk of the Police Court, a private room meas- 
uring 14 by 24 feet, and a room for the Cemetery Commissioners, 10 
by 17 feet ; a room for the Engineers of the Fire Department, 18 by 
21 feet ; a Messenger's Room, 9 by 12^ feet ; and a fine staircase 
hall — a feature of marked convenience — in the centre of the west 
front, by which direct access is had from the exterior to the Public 
Library, and the armory overhead. The clear interior height of this 
principal story is seventeen feet. 

Ascending by the broad double staircase already described to the 
second floor, a wide landing, surrounding three sides of the staircase 
hall, gives access to the several apartments located in this story. The 
principal feature is the conunodious and truly elegant Common Coun- 
cil Room, — an apartment of the most marked and striking character, 
extending the whole length of the central division of the building, and 
measuring 34 by 54 feet, and 28 feet high. A gallery is provided at 
each end, spanning the whole width of the apartment, covering, re- 
spectively, toilet-rooms, water-closets, entrance lobbies and gallery 



lis THE CITY HALL. 

Staircases, all of which are at the level of the floor of the Council 
Cliarnher. For architectural effect, this apartment depends chiefly 
on its noble coved ceilinj^, divided into massive paunels, and the highly 
ornate flnish of the gallery fronts and vestibules underneath. The 
area occupied by the members is enclosed by a handsome black wal- 
nut balustrade, the remainder of the floor being devoted to settees for 
the use of the public. Few apartments of a public nature through- 
out the C'onunonwealth can justly lay claim to a comparison with this 
Council Chamber, in the important requisites of convenience, appro- 
priateness and simple beauty. 

To the right the Mayor and Aldermen's Room occupies the centre 
of the east end, — an apartment in which a very pretty episode of 
plan is produced by the deep and wide recess projected out from the 
north side, for the Mayor's platform ; the area of this room being 
31 by 32 feet. It is pleasingly finished with pilasters and entab- 
lature of the full Corinthian order, and though smaller than the 
Council Chamber, is fully in accord with the style and finish of that 
room, its ceiling, however, being level, and twenty feet high. The 
front corner room, on the same side and over the room of the City 
Clerk, is appropriated to the School Committee, A smaller room, 
over the City Clerk's private office, measuring 9 by 17 feet, is appro- 
priated to the City Engineer. A coat room, 14 by 14^ feet, and a 
convenient lobby, 11 by 14 feet, complete the arrangement of tin- 
easterly end of this floor. 

The remainder of the space on this floor, occupying, in fact, the 
whole extent of the west end of the building, is devoted to the uses 
of the Public Library, and forms a noble apartment of 2(i by 72 feel, 
with shelf room for at least 30,000 volumes. The Librarian is also 
provided with a private room, corresponding in location with the 
City Engineer's Room, before mentioned, and measuring 9 by 17 
feet. The independent staircase at the west end, for outside access 
to the Public Library, is gained by a projection of 12 by 19 feet, in 
the centre of the west front of the building. 

The height of the lesser apartments on this second or principal 
floor is tAventy feet in the clear, but in the case of the Council Room 
and the Staircase Hall, a very considerable further increase of height 
has been secured, by coving the ceilings of these apartments above the 
level of the exterior wall cornices, and thus continuing them into 
the available space of the upper or Mansard story. 

The basement story is devoted entirely to the purposes of the Police 
Court and its necessary appendages, and to the arrangements for fuel 



DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING. 



119 



and heating. The Court Room is a well lighted and convenient 
apartment, measuring 34 by 45 feet. A room underneath that of the 
City Clerk, on the front corner toward Market Street, is assigned to 
the Chief of Police, the room next in the rear of this being the gen- 
eral Police Room, 19 by 23 feet. The various cells and lodging 
rooms for vagrant "' casuals," together with the entries, passage-ways, 
lavatories, and other conveniences required for the Police Depart- 
ment, and the space appropriated for fuel and heating apparatus, 
complete the arrangements on this floor, and certainly afford very 
ample and convenient accommodation for the homely but useful pur- 
poses to which this story has been devoted. The enti-ances to the 
basement department, it should be remarked, are exclusively in the 
rear, and connected with rear gates on Essex and Johnson Streets. 

The Attic or Mansard floor, the space of which is included within 
the high Frencli roof which crowns the whole building, contains sev- 
eral higlily useful apartments, besides the ai'ea before mentioned as 
occupied by the Staircase Hall and the Common Council Room, as 
extended up into this story. Over the whole extent of the Public 
Library is a fine drill-room, for the joint use of military companies, 
while three other rooms, of the area of 24 by 25 feet, 19 by 30 feet, 
and 24 by 25 feet, respectively, are intended for separate armories ; 
and two smaller rooms, each 9 by 17 feet, useful for the storage of 
public documents, complete the available area of this upper story. 
An excellent clock, from E. Howard & Co., adorns the tower, and a 
vane, the gift of H. A. Pevear, Esq., is conspicuous upon its summit. 

We now proceed to give the names of the contractors and others 
who have contributed in a greater or less degree to the advancement 
of the work on the edifice. 

The mason work has been done throughout by Edwin Adams, and 
the freestone by Messrs. Galvin & Cvu-rie. The plastering was the 
work of Lawrence Cleary ; the slating by H. Riley's sons ; the taste- 
ful and admirable carving by S. F. Pratt & Co. ; the iron beams and 
columns, and other constructional iron work, were furnished by G. 
W. & F. Smith ; the iron safes by Ham & Dodge ; the steam-heating 
apparatus by T. S. Clogston & Co. ; the gas pipes by S. T. Sanborn 
& Co. ; the general hardware by M. C. Warren & Co. ; Tuttle, 
Galfield & Co. supplied all the glass required ; the paints were from 
the firm of Crafts & Williams ; a portion of the copper work by 
Hicks & Badg(;r ; part of the lumlier was furnished by Messrs. D. N. 
Skillings & Co., Joseph Gardner, J. F. Paul & Co., Clark & Smith, 
and Calvin Putnam ; the doors by T. & .T. F. Chase ; the sashes and 



120 THE (,'ITY HALL. 

blinds by L. L. C^ot^pcr and .)..!. McNutt ; tlie liiuidsome niHiiteLs and 
other marble work by Messrs. A. Wtuit worth & Co. ; the flagging 
from Baldwin & P^merson, and the cloeks by E. Howard & ('o. A11 
of the above are firms doing l)usiness in Boston. 

The portion of the materials supplied and work performed by 
residents of our own city has been furnislicd in their respective lines 
by the foUowing gentlemen : A considerable portion of the lumber 
required was supplied by Messrs. Neal & Lee, Breed & Bassett, S. 
N. Breed & Co., Joseph Breed, 2d, and J. Raddin ifc Co. ; Messrs. 
Edward Pease and Walter B. Allen have been engaged in the cai- 
peuter work; the metal I'oofiug and plumbing work was by the firm 
of Larrabee & Brother ; William Baird tt Son did the painting ; Geo. 
W. Otis furnished the lightning rods and iron railing ; the granite 
was furnished and cut by T. G. Blethen ; and part of the gas fitting 
done by J. C. Cheever. In all respects the spirit shown by the 
above parties in the performance of their shares of the work reflects 
credit upon them. The lead required came from J. A. & W. 
Bird & Co., and the black walnut stock from S. A. Holt, sevi-rally 
of Salem. 

The neat and elegant furniture of the various apartments was fur- 
nished by E. H. Brabrook, 4 and 6 Union Street, Boston, represented 
by Amos Beckford, Jr., of this city; the carpets by Messrs. Snow. 
Goldthwait & Knight, of Boston, and the gas fixtures, remarkable 
for their beauty and taste, by R. Hollius, of Boston. 

The position of local superintendent of all the various works was 
ably filled by J. Q. Hammond, Esq., while Mr. J. W. Tewksbiiry. 
builder, had charge of the carpentry and other finishing work through- 
out. The quality of the work performed under the direction of Mr. 
Tewksbury commands the utmost praise ; and there are few public 
structures in the country that can compare with this in the careful 
arrangement and thorough execution of the interior construction and 
finish throughout. Our citizens may well congratulate themselves 
that this most important portion of the work has been supervised by 
such thoroughly trained and competent hands. 



FINANCIAL HISTORY 



FINANCIAL HISTORY. 



The following- statements are those reported by the Joint Speeial 
Committee on City Tlall, Dec. 28, 1868. 



APFUOPUIATIONS FOR LAND. 

July 15. 1863. First appropriation for the purchase of Lot. . $15,000 00 
Oct. 17. 1864. Appropriation for enlarofint; Lot. . . G,700 00 

Subsequently added 700 00 

$7.400 GO 

$22,400 00 
EXPENDITURES. 

Oct.. 1863. Paid to the heirs of Holton Johnson. . $10,000 00 

to Rufus Johnson 1,250 00 

to Charles E. Spinney 1,650 00 

to Everett A. Alley 2,100 00 

Dec.. 1864. Paid to George Foster 1.400 00 

to G. L. Gamage 2.000 00 

to S. J. Weinberg 4.000 00 

$22,400 00 



APPROPRIATIONS FOR BlILDING. 

Aug. 28. 1865. For basement of City Hall $20,000 00 

July 12. 1866. For superstructure (City Bonds). . 100.000 00 
Jan. 29. 1867. For superstructure and finish (City 

Bonds) 100.000 oo 

For completing and furnishing ((^it\ 

Bonds) 57.000 00 

277.000 01) 

EXPENDITURES. 

Paid Messrs. Bryant & Gilman. architects $8,000 00 

Edward Adams, contractor for masonry. . . 49,632 69 

Messrs. Galvan & Currie, for freestone. . . . 60.863 32 

Lawrence Cleary. plastering and stucco work. 13,097 00 

James \V. Tewksbury, builder 40,848 20 

T. S. Clogston & Co.. heating apparatus. . . 10.497 66 

T. G. Blethen, for stone steps, fence, &c. . . 15,672 75 

Larrabee & Bro.. tin roofing, coppering. &c. 10,197 07 

Tuttle. Gaffield & Co., for glass 3,550 73 

Amount carried forward, $212,359 12 



124 FINANCIAL HISTORY. 

Amount brought forward, $212,359 42 

Paid M. ('. Warren & Co., for hardware 2,297 4;") 

G. W. & F. Smith, iron beams and columns. . 4,304 74 

S. F. Pratt & Co., for carvino- 1,5GG .50 

Ham & Dodofe, for iron safes 4,391 00 

William Baird & Son, for paintinf>- 4.043 92 

Joseph F. Paul & Co., for lumber 4.105 75 

Breed & Bassett, for lumber (5.910 2(i 

D. N. Skillin^s & Co., for lumber 1,809 80 

Neal & Lee, for lumber 1,478 40 

Hicks & Badj^er, coppering' 1,514 60 

A. Wentworth & Co., for marble 3, .500 87 

T. & J. F. Chase, for doors 2.529 00 

Bugbee & Hollis, for locks, knobs, &c. . . . 1,112 22 

Geo. W. Otis, for lightning rods and railings. 1,208 28 

J. J. McNutt. for fancy wood-work 2,250 (53 

L. L. Cooper, for sashes, blinds, &c 1,818 00 

R. Hollings, for gas fixtures 1.531 05 

E. H. Brabrook. for furniture 7.370 22 

Goldthwait, Snow & Knight, carpets 1.824 53 

William M. Newhall, bricks for sidewalk. . . 1.203 77 

Charles E. Kimball, for insurance 1,029 00 

Walter B. Allen, for flooring basement. . . . 1,013 01 

H. Riley's sons, for slating 847 03 

McKie & Brother, for lathing 553 87 

Crafts & Williams, paints 621 71 

W. Blanchard & Co 588 94 

Denio. Roberts & Co., steel safe 574 00 

E. Howard & Co., clocks 670 00 

Morss & Whyte, iron railing, &c 405 09 

John Hall, window sashes 390 40 

S. T. Sanborn & Co., gas pipes 340 77 

-T. C. Cheever, gas fixtures 682 38 

S. N. Breed & Co., lumber 727 94 

Joseph Breed, 2d, lumber 540 09 

J. Raddin & Co., lumber 363 61 

O. A. Durrell, stone work 490 75 

Sundry persons for lumber, labor & materials. 4,415 06 

Sundry persons for teaming, grading, &c. . . 5,878 18 

Total .$289,322 24 

Appropriations brought forward. For land. . . . $22,400 00 

For building 277,000 00 

Transfer from Contingent account to balance. . . 12,322 24 

$311,722 24 

Expenditures brought forward. For land. . . . $22,400 00 

For building 289,322 24 

$311,722 24 



VENERABLE LIST 



\ E N E li A B L E LIS V , 



As a fitting" conclusion to this work, it remains to 
give, as below, an enumeration of the aged and vener- 
able citizens who honored with their presence the dedi- 
catory services at the C'ity Hall, being then seventy or 
more years of age. With many of them it was an 
occasion of great pride and enjoyment. Some took 
much pains and made considerable journeys to meet 
the invitation ; and none have been found who did not 
feel themselves repaid by the exercises of the day, and 
the satisfaction, not often had, perhaps, of meeting with 
old friends and looking upon faces familiar in years long 
gone by. 

It is not pretended that this list is absoluteh' com- 
plete. Great pains have been taken to make it as 
nearly so as possible ; but it is almost inevitable that 
some may have escaped attention after all. It would 
have been difficult to register them all with certainty, 
even on the spot ; and how much more so after the lapse 
of several years. It is therefore lioped that any such 
omission, if noticed, will be understood and excused. 



Horn 

1783. 

21 Xov. Epes Maii,>Hfl(l. 

17S4r. 

10 Nov. .loiiatliati UiclianLsoii. 

Tyler of Mt. Carniel Lodge of Musons from 
IKH to )8t>;. 

1785. 

29 Mairli. Hon. Sti'i)lici) Oliver. 
Member Mas;-. Senate in 18.'?r and IMl. 



Born 
lU July. C'alU'V Xinvliall. 
19 Sept. C'lii'istoplu'r .Jolmson. 

178(>. 
17 Feb. • Paul Ncwhall. 

Former owner of the "War < »f1ice." See p. xi. 

19 Maivli. C'liristoplu'f Bubii-r. 
1 Sept. Beiijauiin ^Mtidu'e. 
County Conimissioner from l^^oll to IS5<i. 



128 



THK CITY HALL. 



1787- 
H; Fi'I). Isi-iU'I Burtiuii. 
lo Auji. .lolui liailey. 
2 N(i\ . \Villi;un 1). 'riiompsdii. 

1788, 

IT) April. Kdiuiind Xoiu-sc. 
2 .luly. Moses Bursiel. 

1789. 

18 .Jiiiu'. ("M])t. Amos Breed. 
Ifi Dee. Capt. John Lovejoy. 
Member Massacliusetts Coiistitutioniil Con- 
vention, 1820. 

1790. 

l2Mar('li. Oliver (^nesti-oiu. 
22 April. Cyrus Ilouj^hton. 

10 Julv. Dean Gray. 

6 Nov. John Mansfield. 
28 Di'c. Joseph Dainpney. 

1791. 

l;> March, .hunes Howard. 

1 1 May. John Deland. 

Seaman oC lsl2 and prisoner at Dartmoor. 

24 Xw'^. Tlieophiliis Bnrrill. 
10 Nov. Theophilus riaUowel!. 

12 Xo\ . David liowler. 

1792. 

2C) Maicli. dolin Chase. 
H) April. .Jesse L. Lewis. 
2;") Oct. Rev. George Heard. 
10 Dee. Benjamin H. .Taeobs. 
Sexton of old Burying Ground since !s:?(). 

1798. 

i 1 Fel). -losei.h Ing-alls. 
>leml)cr oi' lirst City Government, ls5(). 

2;'. Feb. Daniel Caldwell. 
2").lnne. .losepli Barry. 
27. June? Khenezi'r Lee. 

i) Oct. Jonathan Buffum. 
Kornicr owner and publislier of Lynn Record. 

1794r. 

I 1 .Ian. .lames Babh. 

Member of Jirst City Government, ls50. 

i) Feb. William M. Ladd. 
12 Feb. Caleb Stone. 
27 ^Iai<li. Timothy Newhall. 



Born 

2.') April. Benjamin B. Johnson. 
Former owner in land occupied by(;ity Hall. 

20 May. James Oliver. 
Casbier of Lynn Mecbanics' Bank for many 
years. 

20 Sept. Andrews Breed. 
Mayor in 1S55. 

20 Sept. Nathaniel Peck. 

I Oct. Daniel L. Mudge. 

1795. 
1() Feb. Jacob Purinton. 
A well known land surveyor for many years. 

19 April. Samuel Bacheller. 
24 April. Amos Rhodes. 
Librarian of Lynn Social Library from IK'O 
to 1850. 

16 May. Solomon Alley. 

4 Jime. Shadrach Kamsdell. 
29 June. John R. Johnson. 
Former owner in land occupied by City Hall. 

17 Oct. Amos Lewis. 

? .John B. Wormstead. 

Seaman in action of Hornet and Peacock, 

Feb. 2", 1813. 

1796. 

IG April. Capt. Joseph A. Jjloyd. 

Mechanical Engineer; Commissioner of 

Wrecks from 1828 to 1808. 

17 May. Denison Gajje. 

17 June. Isaac Organ. 

8 Aug. Daniel Johnson. 

28 Sept. Samuel Graves. 

22 Oct. Col. Ebenezer Neal. 

1 Nov. George Luimmis. 

1 Dec. Thomas F. Newhall. 

27 Dec. Loadman Arrington. 

1797. 

1 March. lienjamin Ashton. 
10 March. Henry Newhall. 
President Central National Bank. Seep. 32. 

6 A])ril. William Cha.se. 
10 Mav. -lohn Aspinwall. 

II June. C'ol. John Nichols, 
l.'i June. Jesse Frost. 

2() July. Samuel Rust. 
2.'J Aug. Richard Tufts. 

Deacon of First Church since 1834. 
8 Sept. Albin Rose. 

7 Oct.? Josiah R. Clough. 
IS Oct. Williams lugalls. 



INDEX. 



18 



Page 79. The first date t)ii the Memorial Tablet should read 
Nov. 28 mstead of Nov. 23. 

Page 123, 9th line from bottom, for Edward i-ead Edwin. 



IISTDEX. 



Act. for creation of Sinkinof Fund. 30. . 

Address, intended, of Mayor Xeal, 37; dedicatory, of Mayor Usher, ol ; 

of James R. Newliall, at dedication, 80. 
Alley, John B., remarks of, at dedication, 88. 

Band. Lynn Brass, performances at dedication, 46, 58, 79, 87. 

Barnes. Rev. J. W. F.. dedicatory prayer of, 49. 

Biddle. Rev. C. W., prajer at laying of corner stone, 35. 

Bond, Josepli, burned in City Hall, xv; widow of, pensioned, xvn. 

Box under corner stone, contents of, 36. 

Buftum, James X., remarks of, at dedication, 97. 

Building Committee, report of, at dedication, 47. 

Chase, George H., remarks of, at dedication, 100. 

Church, First, when built, vi ; location and removal of, vi. 

Church, Second, or "Old Tunnel," built, vi; place of. vii; town denied 
use of, vii ; events during meetings in, ix. 

Church. First Methodist, first meeting in. viii; location of. viu; when 
built, x; events during meetings in, x; last meeting in, x. 

Church. Second Methodist, meeting in, xi. 

City Government, first accommodations of, xiv; removal to Pevear s 
"Block, xvli; removal to buildings in Essex Street, xvii. 

City Hall, old, made from Town Hall, xiv; burned, xv. 

City Hall, new, first order on building. 1; land bought for, 4; remarks of 
Mayor Neal upon, 1864, 5; same. 1865. 7; first order for plans and 
estimates for. 3 ; work on ordered to be begun, 10 ; remarks of Mayor 
Usher upon, 1866. 14; same, 1867. 20; order for dedication of. 24; re- 
port of plans by Bryant & Gilman, 25 ; laying of corner stone of. 35 ; 
dedication of. 45-109 ; description of, 113-120. 

(Commissioners of Sinking Fund, 32. 

Contractors and F'lrnishers for the work, 119. 

Corner Stone of New City Hall, laying of. 35 ; intended address of Mayor 
Neal at, 37. 

Cummings. Thomas C. remarks of. at dedication. 96. 

Dedication of new City Hall. 45. 

Dinner at dedication, 87. 

Documents placed under corner stone. 36. 

Engine Houses fitted for City Government, xvii; subsequent removal 
of, xvii. 

Financial History of the work, 123. 

Hall, of Paul and Ellis Newhall. place of. xi; meetings in, xii. 
Hall, Town. See Town Hall. 
Hall. City. See City Hall. 



^ V ^ 



132 INDEX. 

Johnson estates, purchase ot, xvii. 

Kimball, Charles E., remarks of, at dedication, 104. 

Letters at dedication. From J. C. Stickney, 95 ; from various parties, 108. 
Lincoln, Abraham, resolves on death of, where passed, xvii. 
List, of Contractors, etc., 119; Venerable, 127. 
Lynnfleld, incorporation of, meetings as to, xii. 

Meetint? House. See Church. 
Men, old, at dedication. See Old Men. 

Music at dedication, by Lynn Brass Band, 46, 58, 79, 87 ; by vocalists, 108 ; 
by audience, 109. 

Neal, Peter M., remarks of, on City Hall, 1864. 5; same, 1865, 7; at dedi- 
cation, 93 ; intended address of, 37. 
Newhall, James R., address of, at dedication, 80. 
Newhall, Thomas B., remarks of, at dedication, 106. ^ 

Old Men at dedication, 46; list of same, 127. 

Order, first on new City Hall, 1 ; first for plans and estimates of same, 3; 
for purchase of Johnson estates, 4; for commencement of building, 
10 ; for creation of Sinking Fund, 22 ; for dedication of Hall, 24. 

Poem, dedicatory, by Cyrus M. Tracy, 58. 

Records saved at burning of City Hall, xvi. 

Remarks of Mayor Neal on City Hall, 1864, 5; same. 1865. 7; of Mayor 
Usher on City Hall, 1866, 14; same, 1867, 20. 

Remarks at dedication; of Thomas Stacey, 47; of John B. Alley, 88; of 
Peter M. Neal, 93 ; of Thomas C. Cummings, 96 ; of James N. Buf- 
fum, 97; of George H. Chase, 100; of Charles E. Kimball. 104; of 
Thomas B. Newhall, 106 ; of Mayor Usher, 49, 109. 

Sinking Fund, act creating, 30; Commissioners of, 32. 
Stacey, Thomas, remarks of, at dedication, 47. 
Stickney, Jeremiah C, letter from, at dedication, 95. 

Tablet, Memorial, unveiling of, at dedication, 79. 

Town, excluded from old Church, viii; valuation and polls in, 1804. ix. 

Town Hall, erection of, ordered, xi; first meeting in, xi; events during 
meetings in, xii; removed from Common, xiii; repaired, xiii; re- 
modeled for City Government, xiv; burned, xv; disposition of ruins 
of, xvii ; history of erection of, 38. 

Town Meetings in old church, vi; in "Tunnel," ix; in First Methodist 
Church, x; in Second Methodist Church, xi; in ''War Office," xii; in 
Town Hall. xii. 

Tracy, Cyrus M.. poem of, at dedication, 58. 

■'Tunnel." See Church. 

Usher, Roland G., Mayor, remarks of, on City Hall, 1866, 14; same, 1867, 
20 ; response of to Building Committee at dedication, 49 ; dedicatory 
address of, 51 ; closing remarks of, 109. 

Venerable List, 127. 

Vocalists, music by, at dedication, 108. 

•• War Office," meetings of town in, xi; present existence of. xviii. 



